Heinrich Felix Velvarsky von Vetsin

History

Heinrich Felix VELVARSKY VON VETSIN (died 1624) belonged to a family elevated to Bohemian nobility in the mid-16th century, which divided into the Velvarský and Kourzimský von Wjetschin (Bohemian: z Většína) branches. He appears to have originated from Welwarn and was a musician and lutenist. He was wealthy and originally Protestant, but converted to Catholicism during the Counter-Reformation, which benefited him when the Chief Mint Master Wilhelm von Wreschowitz appointed him as the first alderman on May 9, 1622. His contemporary, the Bohemian chronicler Nicolas Dačický von Heslova, wrote in 1622: "And a certain Heinrich Welwarsky, who had only recently settled in Kuttenberg and was formerly a violin musician, was chosen as the first alderman. This debased the office." He died on the evening of Thursday, March 28, 1624, and was buried in St. Barbara's Church in Kuttenberg, leaving behind a widow named Johanna, but probably no children. According to Lütgendorff and Vannes, because he was explicitly referred to as a violinist, it is assumed he also made violins.

Craft

• Known Instruments: A good lute by him was owned by Bohuslav Lantner in Prague, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. John Dilworth further specifies that the early 19th-century luthier B. Lantner of Prague owned a lute bearing his label dated 1622.
• Current Status of Work: John Dilworth states that his work is "presently unknown".
• Label Information: The label information provided by Lütgendorff reads: "Iindrich Velwarsky z Vetsina / Mus. Instrumental 1620 / na Horách Kutnych".

Further Information

• Period of Activity: Circa 1622.
• Location: Kutná Hora (Kuttenberg), Czech Republic.

Summary

Heinrich Felix VELVARSKY VON VETSIN was a Bohemian nobleman, musician, and lutenist active around 1622 in Kutná Hora (Kuttenberg), Czech Republic. Originally Protestant, he converted to Catholicism and became the first alderman of Kuttenberg in 1622. A contemporary chronicler, Nicolas Dačický von Heslova, noted his past as a "violin musician." He died on March 28, 1624, and was buried in St. Barbara's Church. While his extant work is presently unknown, a lute bearing his label from 1622 was owned by the luthier B. Lantner of Prague.