Pierre Silvestre

SILVESTRE, Pierre Born 1801 Sommerviller, died 1859 Lyon France. Apprenticed to Blaise at Mirecourt. Worked in Paris for Lupot and Gand. Established independently in Lyon from 1829. Joined by his brother Hippolyte working as Silvestre Frères 1831-1848, and then alone for the last ten years of his life. Pierre was the dominant craftsman, and his individually labelled work generally seems to be superior to that of the partnership. He made extremely fine Stradivari, Amati, and Guarneri copies in the manner of Vuillaume: large form but well proportioned and very neatly detailed. Some with carved female heads. Choicest materials and well-textured varnish in appropriate shades. Violas are rare, but several fine Stradivari model cellos extant. Also round-backed double basses. Pierre Silvestre / à Lyon 1848 Petrus et Hipolitus Fratres Silvestre / Fecerunt Lugduni. Anno 1838 no.163 Manuscript label: Fait par Silvestre ainé No. 2 / Luthier chez M. Gand rue Croix- / des petits Champs No. 24. Paris 1827

Brother of Hippolyte ; b. Aug. 9, 1801, at Sommerviller, near Nancy; d. 1859, Lyons. Was also a pupil of Blaise at Mirecourt, then went to Paris, first working under Lupot and then under Gand. In 1829 he founded the business in Lyons. Hippolyte was in partnership with him, 1831-48; he afterwards continued the business alone until his death in 1859. He copied the pattern of Stradivari with great ability , his instruments are always handsome, owing to the beautiful quality of the wood used, and their tone is often remarkably good; the varnish is very fine and the work most carefully finished, consequently they are increasing in commercial value. It is said he made about 350 instruments bearing his label: “Pierre Silvestre a Lyon, 185— ” When working with his brother the label used was: Petrus et Hippolytus Silvestre fra res fecerunt Lugdun 183—” Bronze medals were obtained at the Paris Exhibitions in 1844 and 1855.

A maker of rare abilities. The finish of his instruments is of the highest order; indeed, it would be difficult to find any maker within the range of the modern French school who has surpassed him in delicate workmanship. It may be. said of him, as of many others, that extreme fineness of work is obtained often at the expense of character ; to develop both necessarily needs the mind of a Stradivari. Silvestre was fortunate in procuring wood of beautiful quality; there is scarcely an instrument of his which is not handsome. He copied Stradivari. It is to be regretted that so few of his works are to be met with. Pierre Silvestre was born at Sommerwiller in 1801, and died at Lyons in 1859. In Paris he worked in the workshop of Lupot, and in that of his successor François Gand.

Schüler von Blaise in Mirecourt. Als Gehilfe arbeitete er bei Lupot und Gand-Vater in Paris und vollendete bei diesen seine künstlerische Ausbildung. Im Jahre 1829 eröffnete er in Lyon seine eigene Werkstatt, die er von 1831 an in Gemeinschaft mit seinem Bruder Hippolyte führte, der jedoch nur bis 1848 bei ihm blieb. Pierre Silvestre arbeitete dann allein weiter und kam zu hohem Ansehen. Er war ein geschickter Meister, dessen Arbeiten nicht nur im Ton sondern auch in der äusseren Durchführung tadellos sind. Er schnitzte auch gerne Frauenköpfchen, Porträts u. dergl. am Wirbelkasten und folgte im Allgemeinen dem Stradivari-Modell. Er hat an 350 Violinen und Violoncelli gemacht und wird seinem Bruder Hippolyte entschieden vorgezogen. Nach seinem Tode kam seine Werkstatt an seinen Bruder zurück und ging von diesem auf Pichon über, von dem sie Hippolyte Chrétien, Neffe der Brüder Silvestre, übernahm.

Lyons 1801-1859. Born at Sommerviller (Meurthe). Served his apprenticeship with Blaise at Mirecourt and joined Lupot, with whom he became first hand. At the latter’s death he continued to work with Francois Gand, son-in-law and successor of Lupot, leaving the firm in 1829 in order to found a workshop at Lyons. His brother joined him in 1831 and was his collaborator until 1848. Right from the beginning of his installation at Lyons a most deserved reputation procured him an excellent clientele, his instruments being of remarkable workmanship. Stradivarius model. Fine tender varnish. Should he not have been fully recognised during his lifetime, there is compensation in the knowledge that justice is now fully done to him.