Johann Georg Hellmer

History

Johann Georg Hellmer (1687-1770) came to Prague at a young age, where he became a pupil of Thomas Edlinger and, like his teacher, achieved prosperity. He obtained citizenship in the Malá Strana (Kleinseite) district of Prague in 1724 and owned a house at Neuhofgasse No. 458 (Novodvorská ul.). He was married twice, his second marriage being to Maria Barbara Schmid on July 1, 1738. It is known that Ludwig van Beethoven owned a violin made by Hellmer from the year 1737. A theorbo repaired by him in 1755 is located in Vienna's Art History Collection of the Imperial House (Kunsth. Samml. v. A. H. Kaiserhauses), inventory number 4041. A violin from 1753 by him is found in the collegiate church (Stiftskirche) in Braunau, Bohemia. The Benedictine Abbey of St. Margaret (Bened.-Stift St. Margareth) near Prague possesses a violin from the 1720s, and Prince Lobkowitz of Raudnitz owns a violin from 1751.

Craft

• Models: He worked both after his own beautiful, highly arched model and after models by Klotz and Amati.
• Workmanship: His work is exceptionally clean in form, utilizing mostly excellent wood, which contributes to a soft, noble, yet strong tone.
• Varnish: According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he used a reddish-brown oil varnish with a yellow ground lacquer. John Dilworth notes that Hellmer used a pale yellow varnish prior to approximately 1740, later introducing an orange-brown oil varnish.
• Scroll: Instruments often feature a diminutive scroll.
• Bass Bar: His instruments, like those of all older masters, initially had a bass bar that was considered too weak. However, as this flaw can be easily remedied by a repairer, his violins, particularly on the G-string, produce an unsurpassed sound.
• Branding: He sometimes branded his instruments in the chin of the scroll.
• Instrument Types: He made several violas, and his cellos are considered his most successful instruments.

Influence

• Mentorship: Johann Georg Hellmer was a pupil of Thomas Edlinger in Prague.
• Peer Comparison: His work is considered very close in quality to that of his fellow student, J. U. Eberle.

Legacy

• Notable Owners: Ludwig van Beethoven owned one of his violins from 1737.
• Museum & Collection Presence: His instruments are preserved in significant collections, including a repaired theorbo in Vienna's Art History Collection of the Imperial House, a violin in the collegiate church in Braunau, and instruments in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Margaret near Prague and the collection of Prince Lobkowitz of Raudnitz.
• Imitation: Facsimile labels bearing his name were used by Saxon factory producers in the 19th century, indicating his lasting reputation.

Further Information

• Working Period & Location: He worked in Prague, Czech Republic, approximately between 1720 and 1770.
• Birthplace: He was born in Waltenhofen, Germany, in 1687.
• Address: He owned a house at Neuhofgasse No. 458 (Novodvorská ul.) in Prague.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Georges Hellemer / pragensis me fecit / anno domini 1720", "Joannes Georgius Helmer / Pragae. 1761", and "Joannes Giorgius Hellmer / Pragensis me fecit 1742".

Summary

Johann Georg Hellmer (1687-1770) was a prominent luthier born in Waltenhofen, Germany, who established his career in Prague as a pupil of Thomas Edlinger. Achieving prosperity and citizenship in 1724, he was known for his fine craftsmanship, producing instruments based on his own highly arched model as well as those of Klotz and Amati. His work featured excellent wood, a soft yet strong tone, and a distinctive reddish-brown or orange-brown oil varnish. Despite an initial weakness in the bass bar, easily remedied, his violins, particularly on the G-string, were highly regarded. His legacy includes instruments owned by figures such as Ludwig van Beethoven and preserved in notable collections, with his reputation leading to the use of facsimile labels by 19th-century Saxon producers.