Antoine Saint-Paul

History

Antoine SAINT-PAUL (circa. 1768-1790) worked in Paris, France. He was the grandson of Pierre Saint-Paul, according to John Dilworth's The Brompton’s Book of Violin & Bow Makers, though Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart suggests he was Pierre's son. Antoine Saint-Paul was the son-in-law and successor to Louis Guersan, operating at the sign 'A la Lyre d'Apollon' or 'Au luth royal' on the rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés, near the Comédie Française. He was considered more of a dealer and shopkeeper than a maker himself, though he did produce instruments. He was a sworn master of the Parisian violin makers' guild for 1768. Labels found include "Antonius Saint-Paul, prope Comoediam / Gallicam Lutetiae, anno 1744" and "Antonius Saint-Paul, prope Comoediam Gallicam, Lutetiae, anno 1772." An advertisement label reads: "Antoine Saint-Paul / Luthier à Paris / au luth royal / rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés./ Il fait et vend toutes sortes / d’instruments de musique, / à savoir:—violons de Crémone, violons de sa façon et de toutes sortes d'auteurs, / alto-violas, basses et contrebasses, etc."

Craft

• Instrument Production: Antoine Saint-Paul made and sold various musical instruments, including violins, alto-violas, basses, and contre-basses.
• Style and Quality: His violins were often in the manner of Bocquay, described as small models and rather poor in quality, featuring an ugly pale yellow varnish.
• Distinctive Features: He frequently incorporated carved heads on the pegboxes of his instruments, though Lütgendorff questions if these were his own work.

Influence

• Mentorship and Succession: Antoine Saint-Paul was the son-in-law and direct successor to Louis Guersan, indicating a continuation of Guersan's workshop and possibly his traditions.
• Family Lineage: As the grandson (or son) of Pierre Saint-Paul, he was part of a family tradition of instrument making.

Further Information

• Workshop Sign: His workshop operated under the sign 'A la Lyre d'Apollon' or 'Au luth royal'.
• Workshop Location: The shop was located on the rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés, in Paris, near the Comédie Française.
• Labels: Known labels include "Antonius Saint-Paul, prope Comoediam / Gallicam Lutetiae, anno 1744" and "Antonius Saint-Paul, prope Comoediam Gallicam, Lutetiae, anno 1772." An extensive advertisement label states: "Antoine Saint-Paul / Luthier à Paris / au luth royal / rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés./ Il fait et vend toutes sortes / d’instruments de musique, / à savoir:—violons de Crémone, violons de sa façon et de toutes sortes d'auteurs, / alto-violas, basses et contrebasses, etc."

Summary

Antoine Saint-Paul, active in Paris from approximately 1768 to 1790, was a luthier, dealer, and successor to Louis Guersan. He operated his shop, 'Au luth royal', on the rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain-des-Prés. While primarily a dealer, he also produced instruments, including violins, alto-violas, basses, and contre-basses, often in the style of Bocquay, though his work was noted for its small model, poor quality, and pale yellow varnish. He was a sworn master of the Parisian violin makers' guild in 1768.