Joseph Arthur Vigneron

History

Joseph Arthur Vigneron (1851-1905) was born in Mirecourt in 1851 and died in Paris, France, in 1905. Known as 'Vigneron Père', he began his career as a pupil and assistant of C. N. Husson until 1872. Subsequently, he was employed by J. J. Martin and, from 1880, by Gand and Bernardel. Joseph Arthur Vigneron established his independent workshop in Paris from 1888, located at 54 rue de Cléry. He collaborated with L. Capet, a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, to develop a new bow. His son, André, later joined him in his work.

Craft

• Distinction: Joseph Arthur Vigneron is recognized as a very distinguished bow maker, considered among the best of his time.
• Style Evolution: His early work was in the Bazin manner, but he later embraced the Vuillaume style, developing a distinctive personality in his independent years.
• Construction: He was known for classical French bow making, producing both octagonal and round sticks of renowned playing quality and craftsmanship.
• Prolific Output: Vigneron was a prolific and highly skilled maker, though no work of his is known to feature gold or tortoiseshell embellishment.
• Innovation: In collaboration with L. Capet, he developed a new bow featuring a stick of semi-triangular section, which was branded 'MODÈLE LUCIEN CAPET'. His later work continued to feature this form of stick.
• Playing Characteristics: According to Henri Poidras, his sticks are much sought after by artists for being responsive, strong, and well-balanced, though sometimes a little heavy. Poidras notes that the most important factor is the balance of the stick, allowing for free handling, and that Vigneron's arguments and methods regarding bow weight were not altogether wrong, drawing a comparison to Tourte, who also generally made heavy bows.

Influence

• Mentorship: Joseph Arthur Vigneron was a pupil and assistant of C. N. Husson.
• Employment: He was employed by J. J. Martin and later by Gand and Bernardel.
• Stylistic Influences: His early work reflected the Bazin manner, and he subsequently embraced the Vuillaume style.

Legacy

• Family Continuity: His son, André, joined him in his bow making endeavors.
• Artistic Demand: His bows are highly regarded and much sought after by artists, as noted by Henri Poidras.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: From 1888, Joseph Arthur Vigneron established his independent workshop at 54 rue de Cléry in Paris.
• Branding: His bows were branded 'A. VIGNERON A PARIS' or 'VIGNERON, PARIS', as noted by Millant/Raffin. Henri Poidras also mentions his mark as 'A. VIGNERON, a Paris'.
• Special Branding: Bows developed in collaboration with L. Capet were branded 'MODÈLE LUCIEN CAPET'.

Summary

Joseph Arthur Vigneron (1851-1905) was a distinguished French bow maker, born in Mirecourt and active in Paris. He trained with C. N. Husson and worked for J. J. Martin and Gand and Bernardel before establishing his own workshop in 1888. Known for his classical French bows, which evolved from the Bazin to the Vuillaume style, Vigneron's work is highly regarded for its playing quality and craftsmanship. He collaborated with L. Capet to develop a distinctive bow with a semi-triangular stick, branded 'MODÈLE LUCIEN CAPET'. His bows, often branded 'A. VIGNERON A PARIS', are sought after by artists for their responsiveness and balance, despite sometimes being heavier, a characteristic he discussed with Henri Poidras.