MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - online book

The History And Development Of Musical Instruments From The Earliest Times.

Share page

Visit Us On FB

	96                 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
	of these figures is particularly interesting on account of the sur­prising resemblance which his instrument bears to our present violin. Not only the incurvations on the sides of the body but also the two sound-holes are nearly identical in shape with those made at the present day. Respecting the reliance to be placed on such evidence, it is necessary to state that the roof, originally con­structed between the years 1177 and n94, was thoroughly repaired in the year 1835. Al­though we find it as­serted that" the greatest care was taken to retain every part, or to restore it to its original state, so that the figures, even where retouched, are in effect the same as when first painted," it never­theless remains a deba­table question whether the restorers have not admitted some slight alterations, and have thereby somewhat mo­dernised the appearance of the instruments. A slight touch with the brush at the sound-holes, the screws, or the curvatures, would suffice to produce modifications which might to the artist appear as being only a renovation of the original representation, but v/hich to the musical investigator greatly impair the value of the

>