Francesco Gobetti

This is one of the little-known makers, a fact which may be attributed to the practice common some years ago of removing the original label of an instrument and substituting another, bearing a name more likely from its familiarity to command attention. When we see Violins bearing the stamp of genius upon them, and reflecting much credit on the maker, the lovers of the instruments cannot but regret that the author should have been eclipsed, and deprived of his just praise. Had the name of Gobetti been permitted to associate itself with the instruments into which it was originally placed, they would have been as highly valued as any belonging to the Venetian school, with the single exception of Domenico Montagnana. The admirers of that finished maker, Santo Serafino, may perhaps dispute the justice of this observation ; but, having carefully weighed the merits of both Santo Serafino and Gobetti, I have no hesitation in awarding to the latter the foremost place. Gobetti's style is superior, being more Cremonese than Venetian ; and further, his model is preferable. Gobetti has been considered to have been a pupil of Antonio Stradivari, possibly with some reason, for his instruments bear a similarity to the early works of the great master. The instruments of this maker, like those of many others of his class, have passed for the works of Ruggeri, and sometimes of Amati. There is a slight likeness about the soundhole to the work of Francesco Ruggeri; but to the skilled in such matters, no feature interchangeable with Amati can be detected. The workmanship has a uniformly neat execution; the scroll is the least successful part, being weak in character as compared with the body. The varnish is equal to any belonging to the Venetian school, and its beauty is second only to that of Cremona; its colour is generally a pale red, of considerable transparency. The wood is most handsome. These Venetians were not a little happy in selecting beautiful wood; in fact, it is scarcely possible to discover a single Venetian instrument the wood of which is plain. The tone of Gobetti's works is round, without great power; but the quality is singularly sweet.