Antonio Stradivari   By: Horace William Petherick

PRINTED BY E. SHORE AND CO.,

3, GREEN TERRACE, ROSEBERY AVENUE, LONDON, E.C.

[Illustration: HORACE PETHERICK.]

"THE STRAD" LIBRARY, No. VIII.

ANTONIO STRADIVARI,

BY HORACE PETHERICK.

Of the Music Jury, International Inventions Exhibition, South Kensington, 1885; International Exhibition, Edinburgh, 1890; Expert in Law Courts, 1891; Vice President of the Cremona Society.

COPYRIGHT.

London: "THE STRAD" OFFICE, 3. GREEN TERRACE, ROSEBERY AVENUE, E.C. E. DONAJOWSKI, 26, CASTLE STREET, BERNERS STREET, W. D. R. DUNCAN, 186, FLEET STREET, E.C.

1900

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Date and Place of Birth of Antonio Stradivari His Instructor in the Art of Violin Making Peculiarity of His Early Work, Nothing Striking, but Slowly Progressive Which of the Designs of His Master He was Most Impressed by, and His Own Modifications for Improvement His Departure from the House of His Master Free to Carry Out His Own Inclinations 1

CHAPTER II.

Details of Further Improvements upon His New Designs Modification of the Soundholes The Amati Varnish and Stradivari's His Secrecy of Method in Working His Knowledge of What was Wanted and Efforts at Advance in Tone Quality 8

CHAPTER III.

The Date of the True Stradivarian Individuality Alterations in Design Proportions Settled for Good The Exceptions The "Long Strad" The "Inlaid Strads" An Acknowledged Master of His Art Black Edging The Arching and Channelling The Brescians, the Amatis and Stradivari 13

CHAPTER IV.

Lesser Known Patterns of Stradivari The Treatment of the Scroll by Him The Individuality and Maturing of the Style The Purfling 19

CHAPTER V.

Stradivari's Great Success His So called "Grand Epoch" His Patrons His Violins Reputed for Tone when Quite New and Sought After The Help He Received His Assistants and Pupils Parts of the Work Requiring His Individual Touch The Members of His Family who may have Assisted Him Stradivari's Varnish His Imitators 22

CHAPTER VI.

Some Modifications in Stradivari's Works Variation in Finish of Details The Interior of His Violins The Blocks and Linings The Bar Thicknesses of the Tables Heads or Scrolls of His Different Periods 42

CHAPTER VII.

Stradivari's Tone and System Those of His Pupils and Assistants Qualities of Tone Produced in Different Localities 56

CHAPTER VIII.

The Reputed Golden Period of Stradivari Late in Life His Later Modifications of Design Signs of Old Age Appearing The Help He Received 70

CHAPTER IX.

Evidences in Stradivari's Work of Old Age His Death and Burial Work Left by Him The Advance in Value of His Work Since His Decease 79

LIST OF PLATES.

PORTRAIT OF HORACE PETHERICK Frontispiece .

PORTRAIT OF ANTONIO STRADIVARI To face page 1

THE HOUSE OF STRADIVARI " " 4

STRADIVARI'S WORKSHOP " " 6

PATTERNS OF VIOLINS page 6

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SOUNDHOLES To face page 48

ILLUSTRATIONS OF SCROLLS, FIG. a. " " 50