Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-26
yIOIINS OF .CREMONA.
HISTORY AND PRESENT OWNERSHIP
=. or RARE OLD INSTRUMENTS.


.. or RARE OLD INSTRUMENTS.
The Jupiter Owned by Mr.. Barnes-The
Story Of the Famous Betts-How the
Messiah Got Its Name - False impress
sion Regarding stradivarius.
One of the most valuable violins in New
York Is the Jupiter, Stradivarius owned
nv Thurlow Weed Barnes. He paid some-
thing like $4,000 for it. Mr.. Barnes Is
enthusiastic on the subject of violins and
violin playing and is an expert amateur
performer. He has been fond OF violins
for many years and was long on the watch
for an exceptionally fine instrument. 1t
was not until about four years ago that he
was so fortunate as to become the possess
or Of the Stradivarius of 1929, known all
over Europe as the Jupiter.
This violin came into Mr.. Barnes hands
by accident. 1t was bought by him direct
ly from the Duchess de Camposelice, who
lives in the Rue Kleber, Paris. The Duke
dc Camposelice was well known as an ad-
mirer of stringed instruments and had
been in the habit of playing once or twice
instrument was Stradivarius. His music
room, built especially for the purpose, with
high, vaulted ceiling, contained cabinets
which held his most valuable viollns, VI
olas and violoncellos. One cabinet held
under secure fastening the famous viollns
known as the Belts and the Jupiter, the for
mer bearing date 1899, the latter l722. Inc
other instruments in this cabinet were MS
favorite viola, probably the finest In the
world, and magnificent Yloloncelio.
These were the treasures OF the COLLECTION
through long series Of years.
Mr.. Barnes became acquainted with the
duchess through common friends In Paris,
who had intimated that in their opinion
the duchess, who for some little time had
been q widow, might be willing to sell
part of her late husbands collection, in
which, besides the works of Stradivarius,
were instruments made by Joseph Guar
neri, Amati, Gagliano Puggeri and by
German, Flemish, Spanish, Dutch and
French masters.
Special attention was given to the fiddle
known as the Belts, whose history lends
to the instrument peculiar notoriety and
attractiveness. AS every expert in Europe
and America knows, this is one of the
finest creations that left the shops of the
master of the art of violin manufacture.
The story of the Belts is as follows:
One day in London an unkempt stran-
ger dashed into the shop Of second class
violin dealer named Belts, whose shop did
not attract any remarkable patronage
Rushing up to Belts, the stranger, who
carried violin under his arm, exclaimed:
"Here is fiddle which want to sell.
Look at it quickly and make me an offer. :"
As soon as he glanced at the instrument
Belts saw that it was the most valuable
violin he had ever seen.
"What price do you expect to get for
this Instrument he asked.
"Oh, give me pound" the stranger
said, land you can have the violin; only
be quick about it, as must be off in a
hurry"
Belts mechanically produced sovereign
and threw it down on the counter The
stranger took it and departed in haste.
The Duke of Camposelice paid about 3d.
600 francs for this fiddle.
The violin known as the Jupiter was al
ways played in the Camposelice quartet. In
appearance 1t differs notably from the
Belts, being q little larger and a little
darker. There are peculiar distinguishing
marks about the Jupiter fiddle. On the
back the grains of the wood, matching each
other at equal distances from the center,
run nearly the entire length of the instru-
ment. The tone Of the Jupiter is what
gives it it's name. 1t has distinctively
commanding quality, characteristic not
only of Stradivarius, but also of this par
ticular instrument. The tone, while soft
la t. nd rs
ume Is all that virtuoso could ask even
in the largest concert hall.
The date of the Jupiter also is impor-
tant, for before 1890 Stradivarius made few
good violins, while those made by him
later than 1895 show traces of iessening
genius.
With the Jupiter, the Belts and the Eli
jah, which is owned by Mr.. NOVEL; of
Boston, must be ranked the Stradivarius
known as the Messiah. Its name has a
curious history. 1t belonged once to NJ.
Allard, tho former teacher and luther in
Paris. For many years whenever any of
tho great French, Spanish or Hungarian
players went into Allard's shop to show
him their instruments they would ask:
"Well, NJ. Allard, what have you to say
to my violinf"
And Allard would reply invariably, SIT
is very fine but / have to confess to you
as matter, Of truth, although l regret for
your sake to say SO, that have seen a
finer one"
When pressed for further information,
Allard would never give particulars. The
instrument to which he referred belonged
to an old Italian in Genoa, and Allard
was waiting for his death to buy it, He
did not wish to have all the violinists of
Europe as competitors. AS Allard long
failed to produce the famous violin it came
to be known in jest as the Messiah, because
it did not come. Finally Allard secured
it. He put 1t in a glass case and would
not allow it to be touched except by a IA
vored visitor After his death the Mes
siah was sold for more than co. francs
to Mr.. Laurie, rich amateur violinist in
Edinburgh, who still has it.
AS years pass the violins of Stradivari-
us increase in value. The same is true al
SO Of good specimens from the hands of
other old Cremona makers. A false i'm
preston is common regarding the original
prices of tho Stradivarius Instruments.
They were not sold for what now would
DO thought the cheapest nominal figures.