Omobono Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Now here are a couple of particular sound-holes worth a look. (featured in the July Strad) Suffered a little with time but bold from the outset too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MANFIO Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 These f holes are very similar to those of the 1745 Leduc, also by del Gesù, but he had died a year before. Both violins probably have the hands of del Gesù's wife, Katarina Guarneri. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Philip Perret Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 These f holes are very similar to those of the 1745 Leduc, also by del Gesù, but he had died a year before. Both violins probably have the hands of del Gesù's wife, Katarina Guarneri. The "Leduc"? I'd say more so like the "Ole Bull". Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MANFIO Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Hi Philip, you are correct, the Ole Bull, sorry. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
not telling Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 How do you know he died in 1744 before some of those last instruments were completed? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will L Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 The first time I saw these F holes I laughed for 5 minutes. It was like a religious experience. I love them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MANFIO Posted June 29, 2015 Report Share Posted June 29, 2015 Hi not telling, I will quote Roger Hargrave, Biddulph book on DG: "Most of the recent speculation about Katarina hascentred around the idea that she helped her husbandin his late period or that she completed a few leftover bits and pieces. This theory is supported by the1745 label in the 'Leduc' violin, dated posthumously,'del Gesu' having died on 17 October 1744." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
not telling Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Thanks Luis. I forgot that Roger found a record of dG's death. Labels can be inaccurate but probably not his last ones. It really does make sense that someone else was doing the ffs by the time they got that wild. I just forgot there was a record proving his date of death. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
actonern Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 No dog in this "fight" but didn't Chris Reuning post not too long ago that only the hand of Del Gesu is to be found on all instruments flying under that label? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce Carlson Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Thanks Luis. I forgot that Roger found a record of dG's death. Labels can be inaccurate but probably not his last ones. It really does make sense that someone else was doing the ffs by the time they got that wild. I just forgot there was a record proving his date of death. Hi not telling, Roger didn't find it. This was already published in 1931 in the monumental book "The Violin Makers of the Guarneri Family" by the firm of W.E. Hill & Sons, London. Bruce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Omobono Posted June 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Mind you, the Spalding & the Doyen are also pretty jaw-dropping as well.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Will L Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 It will be interesting if anyone ever comes up with a conclusive explanation for what is so totally bizarre compared to any other maker I can think of. I mean, some people assume sickness, but still dG's hand; others think these F-holes are just too much like another hand. And I wonder that any maker would just turn over the work to just anyone; I'd expect most of us, if we could no longer work, would turn over our stuff to someone who had the "chops" to copy us quite closely. If dG DID assign the Fs, he certainly didn't send for Bergonzi. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
not telling Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 Indeed, some kind of written record of the history/sales of all of these late works would be nice. His work always seemed kind of rushed anyway--maybe Katarina needed the money so she just did what she could with the stockpile of parts and pieces that were around since who knows when until someone figured out that these weren't already finished instruments sitting around, and the jig was up. Seems a definitely plausible theory. The Spaulding...haha, it's great, damn near whimsical. Is that 1744 too? Lead poisoning/brain worms/blindness also makes sense. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Addie Posted June 30, 2015 Report Share Posted June 30, 2015 That's Spalding, not Spaulding, right? As in Albert Spalding? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
~ Ben Conover Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 On 6/30/2015 at 7:01 PM, Addie said: That's Spalding, not Spaulding, right? As in Albert Spalding? Yes Addie...Spalding was a great player : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rue Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 I hope he and Addie are chatting it up, up in the clouds... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
nathan slobodkin Posted January 8, 2020 Report Share Posted January 8, 2020 On 6/30/2015 at 12:21 PM, Will L said: It will be interesting if anyone ever comes up with a conclusive explanation for what is so totally bizarre compared to any other maker I can think of. I mean, some people assume sickness, but still dG's hand; others think these F-holes are just too much like another hand. And I wonder that any maker would just turn over the work to just anyone; I'd expect most of us, if we could no longer work, would turn over our stuff to someone who had the "chops" to copy us quite closely. If dG DID assign the Fs, he certainly didn't send for Bergonzi. Del Gesu was far more interested in making a living than any consideration of how his work would be viewed after his death. I think like any business man he would have been concerned that his reputation remain good enough not to affect future business and beyond that didn't care Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Three13 Posted Tuesday at 02:38 AM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 02:38 AM I'm not really convinced that these over-the-top ffs are a sign of degeneration - it's always seemed to me that he saw this Viola and got excited: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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