Nicolas Simoutre

History

Nicolas SIMOUTRE (1788-1870) was born in Mirecourt. According to Henri Poidras, he was a pupil of Lupot. John Dilworth specifies that he was born in Mirecourt in 1788 and died in Metz, France, in 1870, having been apprenticed to Lupot in Paris. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also confirms he was a pupil of Nicolas Lupot in Paris. Sources contain conflicting information regarding the establishment of his workshop in Mirecourt; John Dilworth and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff state he established his workshop in Mirecourt from 1817, while Cecie Stainer indicates he began his business as a violin maker in 1820. He moved to Metz around 1844, as noted by John Dilworth, or in the early 1840s, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. Cecie Stainer states he settled in Metz in 1844 and worked there until his death. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff adds that he died in Metz during a siege, while other sources simply state his death year as 1870.

Craft

• Production: Nicolas SIMOUTRE is credited by John Dilworth with making around 1,000 violins and cellos between 1817 and 1838. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also notes his immense diligence, having made about a thousand violins and cellos.
• Models and Pattern: Henri Poidras describes his instruments as good class, with a pattern that is a little large, and states he worked after the Stradivarius model. John Dilworth mentions his good Cremonese models and accurate work. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states he preferred a large pattern and copied all masters, primarily Stradivari and Guarneri.
• Materials: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that his wood was good but rarely beautiful.
• Varnish: Henri Poidras observed a little dryness in his varnish. John Dilworth describes it as a thin spirit varnish. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also states his spirit varnish was not particularly praiseworthy.
• Specialization: Sources contain conflicting information regarding his production after 1838. According to John Dilworth, he ceased working on bowed instruments and made only guitars from 1838. However, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that in the first years of his independence, he mostly made guitars for Parisian and foreign houses, but since 1838, he made only violins.

Influence

• Training: Nicolas SIMOUTRE was a pupil of Lupot, as stated by Henri Poidras, and apprenticed to Nicolas Lupot in Paris, according to John Dilworth and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Assistants: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff highlights that as a capable master, he soon attracted the most talented assistants, including the Vuillaume brothers and Mougenot.

Legacy

• Family: Cecie Stainer notes that his son, Nicolas Eugene, was also a maker.

Further Information

• Labels: John Dilworth provides examples of his labels, including "Nicolaüs Simoutre / Lupot Nicolaï discipulus / Divoduri fecit 18.." and "Réparé par Simoutre à Metz / en 1862".

Summary

Nicolas SIMOUTRE (1788-1870) was a French luthier born in Mirecourt and trained by Nicolas Lupot in Paris. He established his workshop in Mirecourt, with sources differing on whether this was in 1817 or 1820. He later moved to Metz around 1844, where he died in 1870. SIMOUTRE was a prolific maker, credited with approximately 1,000 violins and cellos, known for his good class instruments, often following Stradivari and Guarneri models with a large pattern. His work was accurate, though his spirit varnish was noted for being somewhat dry or thin. Sources provide conflicting accounts of his production focus after 1838, with some stating he made only guitars and others indicating he made only violins. His son, Nicolas Eugene, also became a maker.