Egidius Snoeck (Schnoeck)

History

Egidius SNOECK (SCHNOECK) (circa 1700-1736) worked in Brussels, Belgium, and was appointed luthier to the court, according to John Dilworth. He stemmed from a family of organ builders in Tournai, a lineage that dates back to the 16th century, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. Lütgendorff also states that Egidius Snoeck can rightly be considered a pupil and successor of Pierre Bourbon, whose works are very similar. The collector and cataloguer César Charles Snoeck (1834-1898) was a descendant of Egidius Snoeck, as mentioned by John Dilworth and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.

Craft

• Workmanship: Instruments produced by Egidius Snoeck are well made, often approaching the Amati model or described as Amatisé pattern, according to Cecie Stainer, Henri Poidras, and John Dilworth. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that his violins show very commendable work.
• Varnish: His varnish is noted as red-brown and of good quality, as described by Cecie Stainer, Henri Poidras, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. John Dilworth specifies a strong red varnish.
• Construction: John Dilworth notes that, as with others of this school, the ribs are set into grooves cut around the inner edges of the back.
• Known Instruments: Instruments known include violins, a tenor viola, and a bass. A half violoncello from the Snoeck collection is now in Berlin, as mentioned by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Labels: Known labels include " Egidius Snoeck tot Brussel, 1731" and "Egidius Snoek à Bruxelles, 1727".

Influence

• Mentorship: Egidius Snoeck was a pupil of Borbon, as stated by Henri Poidras, and a pupil and successor of P. Borbon, according to John Dilworth.
• School: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff suggests that Snoeck's work is very similar to Pierre Bourbon's, supporting the idea of him being a successor.

Legacy

• Museum Holdings: A violin by Egidius Snoeck is owned by Mahillon, and a half violoncello from the Snoeck collection is now in Berlin, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. The Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels holds violins dated 1714 and 1727, a tenor viola, and a bass dated 1734, according to John Dilworth.
• Family Legacy: The collector and cataloguer César Charles Snoeck (1834-1898) was a descendant of Egidius Snoeck.

Summary

Egidius Snoeck (circa 1700-1736) was a distinguished luthier based in Brussels, Belgium, who held the esteemed position of luthier to the court. Descending from a lineage of organ builders, he is recognized as a pupil and successor of Pierre Bourbon, whose craftsmanship he closely emulated. Snoeck's instruments are noted for their high quality, often adhering to or being inspired by the Amati model, and feature a distinctive red-brown varnish. His construction methods included setting ribs into grooves around the inner edges of the back. His legacy includes instruments housed in prominent collections, such as the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, and he is an ancestor of the renowned collector César Charles Snoeck.