Hendrik Jacobs

History

Hendrik Jacobs (circa 1629-1704) is thought to have shared his early training with Cornelius Kleynman under Kleynman's step-father Francis Lupo in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his training; some legends, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, suggest he learned in Cremona and was even the step-brother of the last Amati, likely due to his excellent ability to imitate Nic. Amati's work. Up to approximately 1670, his work was extraordinarily Amatisé, and throughout his life, it remained extremely refined and skillful. After this preliminary period, his instruments became more original in form and method. After 1685, the hand of his stepson, pupil, and successor, Pieter Rombouts, became increasingly dominant in his workshop. Rombouts seems to have used the Jacobs label for up to ten years after his master's death. A typical label reads: "Hendrik Jacobs me fecit / in Amsterdam, 1690".

Craft

• Models: He made a great number of good violins, altos, and violoncellos. He copied the large pattern of Nicola Amati so faithfully that his violins are often taken for genuine Italian instruments.
• Characteristics: His instruments are generally slightly over-sized.
• Materials: The wood is carefully chosen.
• Varnish: He used a darker coloured red-brown varnish of good quality. George Hart describes his varnish as "excellent varnish, of a deep red, very transparent; full of character, but wanting in finish." Later works carry a particularly thick rich red varnish of Venetian quality.
• Purfling: He used quite broad whalebone purfling. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff suggests Jacobsz is considered the first to use whalebone for inlays, leading to any instrument with whalebone purfling being colloquially referred to as a "Hendrik Jacobs." George Hart notes the purfling as "embedded."
• Scrolls & Soundholes: Jacob's own scrolls are perhaps a little weak in character but well cut. Cecie Stainer notes that the scroll and sound-holes are not very well cut. After 1685, the influence of Pieter Rombouts brought even broader whalebone purfling and soundholes with extended curving lower wings imitated from Stainer, whose work was becoming increasingly popular. Rombouts pursued the Stainer manner with a prolonged last turn around the eye on scrolls.
• Tone: The tone is described as sweet, but not very powerful.

Influence

• Training: He is thought to have shared his early training with Cornelius Kleynman under Kleynman's step-father Francis Lupo.
• Mentorship: Pieter Rombouts was his stepson, pupil, and successor.
• Stylistic Influences: His early work was extraordinarily Amatisé, copying the large pattern of Nicola Amati. Later, his stepson Pieter Rombouts introduced elements imitated from Stainer, such as soundholes with extended curving lower wings and scrolls with a prolonged last turn around the eye.

Legacy

• Rarity & Value: His works are now quite rare and highly priced. Even the Selhof'sche Verzeichniss (1759) listed only two violins by him.
• Attribution Challenges: Most of the cellos attributed to Jacobs are probably the work of Pieter Rombouts in the later period, and Rombouts seems to have used the Jacobs label for up to ten years after his master's death.
• Notable Instruments: A beautiful violin from the Snoeck collection is located in Berlin.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Label: "Hendrik Jacobs me fecit / in Amsterdam, 1690"

Summary

Hendrik Jacobs (circa 1629-1704) was a renowned Dutch violin maker from Amsterdam, known for his highly refined and skillful instruments. Initially, his work was strongly influenced by Nicola Amati, whose large patterns he copied so faithfully that his violins were often mistaken for genuine Italian instruments. Later in his career, his stepson and pupil, Pieter Rombouts, increasingly influenced the workshop's output, introducing Stainer-like characteristics. Jacobs is particularly noted for his use of broad whalebone purfling and a distinctive red-brown varnish. His instruments are now rare and highly valued.