Gerard J. Deleplanque

History

Gerard J. Deleplanque (circa 1754-1790) was a viol maker and luthier active in Lille, France. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his active period; Cecie Stainer indicates he worked from 1760 to 1788, while John Dilworth suggests a broader period from circa 1754 to 1790. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes his activity from 1768 to around 1790. He was initially established at the "Marche aux poulets," near the "Marche aux poissons." Around 1766, he transferred his business to the rue de la Grande-Chaussee, specifically at the corner of the rue des Dominicains. Later, around 1790, he was located at the Place de Ribour, near the Hôtel-de-Ville in Lille.

Craft

• Instrument Types: Deleplanque was a prolific maker of various bowed and plucked stringed instruments, including viols, guitars, violins, cellos, Pandoren, Lauten, and Zithern.
• Workmanship: He left some excellent specimens of his work, characterized by careful and diligent craftsmanship. His violins and cellos are described by John Dilworth as having awkward workmanship and high arches, but with well-chosen wood and good orange-brown varnish. Lütgendorff notes his skill and diligence, stating his works are quite common.
• Materials and Varnish: His instruments often featured beautiful wood. A five-stringed viol from 1766 had a yellow varnish tinged with red. His violins and cellos utilized a good orange-brown varnish, and Lütgendorff describes his lacquer as reddish-yellow. A magnificent guitar from 1775 was made of tortoiseshell, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and ivory.
• Specific Instruments: Notable examples include a five-stringed viol dated 1766, a very beautiful guitar dated 1768, and another magnificent guitar from 1775. Other guitars are dated 1770 and 1777. A peculiar eleven-stringed guitar from 1772 featured a back shaped like a lute or mandoline.

Legacy

• Collections: Several of Deleplanque's instruments are preserved in significant collections, including the Paris Conservatoire Collection (also referred to as the Musée de la Musique, Paris by John Dilworth) and the Conservatories in Brussels. Instruments are also found in the collections of Snoeck and Heuckart.
• Exhibitions: A five-stringed viol made by Deleplanque in 1766 was exhibited in 1878.

Further Information

• Labels: Deleplanque used various labels throughout his career. One label found in a guitar reads: "Gerard J. Deleplanque, luthier, rue de la Grande-Chaussee coin de celle des Dominicains a Lille, 1788." Another, dated 1772, was found in an eleven-stringed guitar. His later labels included the sign "Au violon de Crémone," as seen on a label from 1790: "Au Violon de Crémone / Gérard J. Deleplanque / Luthier, Place de Ribour, près / l’ Hôtel-de-Ville, à Lille, 1790."

Summary

Gerard J. Deleplanque was a prominent luthier active in Lille, France, from the mid-18th century until around 1790. He was known for producing a wide array of bowed and plucked stringed instruments, including viols, guitars, violins, and cellos. His work, though sometimes described as having awkward workmanship for violins and cellos, was generally considered skillful and diligent, often featuring well-chosen wood and distinctive varnishes. Deleplanque's instruments are preserved in notable collections such as the Paris Conservatoire and the Conservatories in Brussels, reflecting his significant contribution to instrument making during his era.