Nicolas Lupot
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Lupot - born in Stuttgart
, 1758-1824, was one of the most illustrious French Luthier
/ Violin Makers of his time. He apprenticed under his father and worked in Orleans until 1794.
Soon after he moved to Paris where he was appointed violin maker to the king (1815), and to the Conservatoire of Paris (1816).
This latter post involved furnishing instruments (of the whole violin family) awarded to first-prize winners.
Lupot was also ordered by King Louis XVIII to make an orchestra of stringed instruments (which were to be decorated/embellished with Coat of Arms of France).
Ambitiously undertook in 1820 to replace all the instruments of the royal orchestra with new ones of his own make, but death in 1824 prevented him from fulfilling this plan.
Frequently received the title of “The French Stradivarius
”, in Mirecourt
there is a street named after him. Modeling (except a few after Guarnerius and Amati
) always after that of Stradivarius and he imitated that genius more minutely than anybody else had or has ever done. This is why there is such a refreshing variety in his productions some of broad proportions, others more normal and some under the recognized full sizes as well as a few of long pattern.
Workmanship is absolutely splendid (beautifully finished). Scrolls absolute wonders of Stradivarian design and of superlatively quick and certain carving. Margins always particularly strong and full.
"Lupot was an important French maker, modeling his instruments after Stradivari."
, 11 Aug 1696; d Orléans, after 1762). He worked in Plombières
(near Epinal
) about 1725, then in Lunéville
for Stanislas Leczinski's court from 1738 to 1756, and finally in Orléans from 1762 until his death. His eldest son, François (i) (b Plombières, 5 July 1725; d Paris, 25 Aug 1805), Nicolas' father, left Lunéville to work in Germany as violin maker to the Duke of Württemberg. He settled in Stuttgart, where Nicolas was born, then in Ludwigsburg. In 1768 he returned to France and joined his father in Orléans, where he opened his own workshop and acquired the sobriquet François Lupot d'Orléans." ............
"Although the work of Stradivari was Lupot's guide, he was anything but a slavish copyist. What he did grasp as well as any Stradivari follower was incomparable good taste in workmanship; within this discipline he gave expression to his own admirable ideas, as described by Sibire (1806). His rich orange-red varnish, perfectly transparent, gave the final touch. Occasionally he copied Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, whose violins were rapidly achieving fame in the first two decades of the 19th century. Lupot's production was almost entirely of violins; violas and cellos are a rarity. The aristocratic tonal qualities of his instruments have always been well appreciated by players. Lupot's most important pupil was Charles-François Gand, who also became his successor through having married a young girl that Lupot considered as his adopted daughter. Another was Sébastien-Philippe Bernardel. Lupot's influence was strongly felt in Paris throughout the 19th century; above all, he created the standard by which the rest of the great French school is judged." - CHARLES BEARE/SYLVETTE MILLIOT
"J.B. Vuillaume achieved recognition as the greatest technical genius of his time, surpassed in French violin making only by Nicholas Lupot." - Smithsonian Institution
"N. Lupot instruments especially those made in his mature period in Paris, are simply superb" - Filimonov Fine Violins
".......the king of French artists, Nicolas Lupot." - The Violin - Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators by George Hart 1909
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, 1758-1824, was one of the most illustrious French Luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
/ Violin Makers of his time. He apprenticed under his father and worked in Orleans until 1794.
Soon after he moved to Paris where he was appointed violin maker to the king (1815), and to the Conservatoire of Paris (1816).
This latter post involved furnishing instruments (of the whole violin family) awarded to first-prize winners.
Lupot was also ordered by King Louis XVIII to make an orchestra of stringed instruments (which were to be decorated/embellished with Coat of Arms of France).
Ambitiously undertook in 1820 to replace all the instruments of the royal orchestra with new ones of his own make, but death in 1824 prevented him from fulfilling this plan.
Frequently received the title of “The French Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
”, in Mirecourt
Mirecourt
Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...
there is a street named after him. Modeling (except a few after Guarnerius and Amati
Amati
Amati is the name of a family of Italian violin makers, who flourished at Cremona from about 1549 to 1740.-Andrea Amati:Andrea Amati was not the earliest maker of violins whose instruments still survive today...
) always after that of Stradivarius and he imitated that genius more minutely than anybody else had or has ever done. This is why there is such a refreshing variety in his productions some of broad proportions, others more normal and some under the recognized full sizes as well as a few of long pattern.
Workmanship is absolutely splendid (beautifully finished). Scrolls absolute wonders of Stradivarian design and of superlatively quick and certain carving. Margins always particularly strong and full.
"Lupot was an important French maker, modeling his instruments after Stradivari."
Quotes
"The first violin maker of the family was his grandfather Laurent Lupot (bap. MirecourtMirecourt
Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...
, 11 Aug 1696; d Orléans, after 1762). He worked in Plombières
Plombières
Plombières is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Plombières had a total population of 9,672. The total area is 53.17 km² which gives a population density of 182 inhabitants per km². The municipality Plombières consists of the villages...
(near Epinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
) about 1725, then in Lunéville
Lunéville
Lunéville is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department and lies on the Meurthe River.-History:...
for Stanislas Leczinski's court from 1738 to 1756, and finally in Orléans from 1762 until his death. His eldest son, François (i) (b Plombières, 5 July 1725; d Paris, 25 Aug 1805), Nicolas' father, left Lunéville to work in Germany as violin maker to the Duke of Württemberg. He settled in Stuttgart, where Nicolas was born, then in Ludwigsburg. In 1768 he returned to France and joined his father in Orléans, where he opened his own workshop and acquired the sobriquet François Lupot d'Orléans." ............
"Although the work of Stradivari was Lupot's guide, he was anything but a slavish copyist. What he did grasp as well as any Stradivari follower was incomparable good taste in workmanship; within this discipline he gave expression to his own admirable ideas, as described by Sibire (1806). His rich orange-red varnish, perfectly transparent, gave the final touch. Occasionally he copied Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, whose violins were rapidly achieving fame in the first two decades of the 19th century. Lupot's production was almost entirely of violins; violas and cellos are a rarity. The aristocratic tonal qualities of his instruments have always been well appreciated by players. Lupot's most important pupil was Charles-François Gand, who also became his successor through having married a young girl that Lupot considered as his adopted daughter. Another was Sébastien-Philippe Bernardel. Lupot's influence was strongly felt in Paris throughout the 19th century; above all, he created the standard by which the rest of the great French school is judged." - CHARLES BEARE/SYLVETTE MILLIOT
"J.B. Vuillaume achieved recognition as the greatest technical genius of his time, surpassed in French violin making only by Nicholas Lupot." - Smithsonian Institution
"N. Lupot instruments especially those made in his mature period in Paris, are simply superb" - Filimonov Fine Violins
".......the king of French artists, Nicolas Lupot." - The Violin - Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators by George Hart 1909