This illustration of a violin of the Brescian School was published in The Strad, August 1975. The following text is extracted from the article accompanying the photographs:
This violin of the Brescian School dates from around 1600. Violin makers of this School included Gasparo da Salò, Maggini, and a few others of lesser note.
A feature of the Brescian violin illustrated here is its exceptional body length of 14 11/16 inches. The Upper Bouts are 6 3/8; Middle Bouts 4 9/16 inches; Lower Bouts 8 inches bare. The ribs, which are one inch high, are set very close to the edges of the plates, indeed where there is some wear to the table on both sides of the bouts the ribs are flush with the edges.
The long sound-holes are typically Brescian and the head, with half a turn less than usual in the scroll, is a feature also found in violins of Maggini. The exceptionally wide purfling is inserted close to the edge, and well laid into a trench cut by a steady hand.
The two-piece back is of maple with a medium flame, the ribs and head are similar. The table, also in two pieces, is of spruce of medium grain. The varnish is light brown and thinly applied and appears to have impregnated the wood to the extent that the usual worn places on an instrument of this great age still appear to be varnished.
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