Crescenzio Ugar

History

Crescenzio Ugar (before 1751-1791) was born in Urbino, the son of Carlo Ugar of Urbino. Sources contain conflicting information regarding Crescenzio Ugar's birth year; John Dilworth states he was born before 1751 in Urbino, while Karel Jalovec indicates a birth year of 1712 in Urbino. He died in 1791 in Rome, Italy. He was probably of German origin, and his work is often described as having a German character or style. Ugar was first noted in the Roman archives as a violin maker in SS. Sudario dalla parte de' Barbieri in 1788. In his will of 1791, several unfinished violins, cellos, and basses were listed amongst the tools and equipment of his workshop.

Craft

• Workmanship: Instruments produced by Crescenzio Ugar are characterized by an unrefined finish but possess good Italian proportion and balance, according to John Dilworth. Henri Poidras described his work as 'Ordinary work,' and Karel Jalovec noted his instruments were of medium quality.
• Design Elements: His instruments feature long soundholes with emphatically cut nicks, a medium arch, and a narrow edge. The head is distinctive, with a long, slender pegbox and a quite concentric scroll featuring a deeply extended final turn. Some instruments are noted to have whalebone purfling.
• Materials: Ugar utilized materials of second quality, including heavy-grained fronts and often flawed maple of apparently local origin.
• Varnish: He used a good but not exceptional varnish of golden- to red-brown, as noted by John Dilworth. Other sources, including Cecie Stainer, Henri Poidras, and Karel Jalovec, describe his varnish as brown or brown of plain appearance.
• Admired Instruments: His double basses were much admired.
• Label: A label in a double bass cited by Strocchi reads: 'Crescentius Ugar / fecit Romae anno 1788 [Lebet]'.

Influence

• Mentorship: Sources contain conflicting information regarding Crescenzio Ugar's relationship with Giuseppe Orselli. Karel Jalovec states that Ugar was a pupil of Giuseppe Orzelli, while John Dilworth notes that Ugar's will of 1791 listed workshop contents left to his pupil Giuseppe Orselli.
• Style: His work is described as German in character or style by Cecie Stainer, Henri Poidras, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, with Karel Jalovec stating he 'Worked in the fashion of the German school.'

Legacy

• Workshop Succession: In his will of 1791, Crescenzio Ugar left the tools and equipment of his workshop, along with several unfinished instruments, to his pupil Giuseppe Orselli.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: Crescenzio Ugar was noted in the Roman archives as a violin maker in SS. Sudario dalla parte de' Barbieri in 1788.
• Valuation: Karel Jalovec listed a price of 10,000 Kc for his instruments.

Summary

Crescenzio Ugar was an 18th-century violin maker born in Urbino, active in Rome, Italy, where he died in 1791. Of probable German origin, his instruments are noted for their German character, unrefined finish, but good Italian proportion and balance. He used second-quality materials and a golden- to red-brown or brown varnish. His double basses were particularly admired. Sources conflict on his birth year (before 1751 or 1712) and his relationship with Giuseppe Orselli, who is described as either his teacher or his pupil and inheritor of his workshop.