The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Bulletin

Musical
Instruments
1
'
Barak Norman
English, about I670-1740
Viola da Gamba
English (London), I69z
Spruce, maple, and various other woods
Length of body, z5 in. (63.5 cm)
Purchase, Clara Mertens Bequest, in memory of
l~~~ i!'r~~~~~~ ~Andre Mertens, I990
1990.233
Barak Norman is considered the most important English luthier
of the Baroque period; he made both plucked and bowed
X instruments, among which his violoncellos and violas da gamba
.(viols) are particularly esteemed for their tonal quality, fine
materials, and often elaborate decoration. Most of Norman's
surviving instruments have been altered during the course of
centuries of use, and it is exceptional to find a bass viol like
ours that preserves its original delicate open scroll, marquetry
fingerboard, and matching tailpiece. Geometric and floral purfling
of ligh t d and ark lines enhances spruce the front and
maple back. Marks wear of ad d character th to e orange-brown
varnish. The interior bears repairers' labels as well as
Norman's handwritten label that gives his shop address, 68 "at the
Bass Viol in St. Paul's Ally, London." This model is called a
division bass viol because it was used chiefly to play divisions,
or elaborate variations on popular tunes.
Norman's earliest recorded viol is dated 169o, and ours, made
in x69z (the same date as a nearly matching one in the Royal
College of Music, London), is likewise a youthful product.
Even at this stage his craftsmanship is exquisite, reflecting a
thorough apprenticeship and familiarity with the work of
another famous London luthier, Richard Meares0, who is represented
in our collection by an equally handsome bass viol of
the previous decade z.3 ( 98 z4).
LL
Ex coll.: Dennis Nesbitt, London.
Bibliography: Handel: A Celebration of His Life and Times, i685-1759
(exhib. cat.), London, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, no. 79; Made
for Music (exhib. cat.), London, Galpin Society, i 986, no. z; Musical
Instruments (sale cat.), Sotheby's, London, June 14, 1990, lot z87
(illus.).
Entries by Laurence Libin, Frederick P. Rose Curator.
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