Heinrich Felix Velvarsky von Vetsin
d. 1624
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.
Maker Overview
Life
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., because he was explicitly referred to as a violinist, it is assumed he also made violins.
Characteristics
- Known Instruments
- A good lute by him was owned by Bohuslav Lantner in Prague. 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".
- Iindrich Velwarsky z Vetsina
Mus. Instrumental 1620
na Horách KutnychJohn Dilworth
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
VELVARSKY VON VETSIN, Heinrich Felix Worked circa. 1622, died 1624 Kutná Hora (Kuttenberg) Czech Republic. Alderman of the town in 1622. In that year he was described by a contemporary writer Nicolas Dacicky as a violinist. Lütgendorff and Vannes assume that he also made violins. The early 19th century luthier B. Lantner of Prague owned a lute bearing his label dated 1622. Work presently unknown. Iindrich Velwarsky z Vetsina / Mus. Instrumental 1620 / na Horách Kutnych [Lütgendorff]
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Er gehörte einer um die Mitte des 16. Jahrhunderts in den böhmischen Adelstand erhobenen Familie an, die sich in die Zweige Velvarský und Kourzimský von Wjetschin (böhmisch: z V?tšína) theilte. Dem Namen nach scheint er aus Welwarn zu stammen und war Musiker und Lautenmacher. Er war vermögend und ursprünglich Protestant, trat aber zur Zeit der Gegenreformation zum Katholicismus über, was ihm insoferne einen Vortheil brachte, als ihn der Oberstmünzmeister Wilhelm von Wreschowitz am 9. Mai 1622 zum ersten Schöffen erwählte. Sein Zeitgenosse, der böhmische Chronist Nicolas Da?icky von Heslova, schreibt (1622) darüber: »Und es wurde zum ersten Schöffen ein gewisser Heinrich Welwarsky, welcher sich erst unlängst in Kuttenberg ansässig machte und früher ein Geigenmusiker war. Dadurch wurde das Amt herabgesetzt.« (!) — Er starb am Donnerstag-Abend des 28. März 1624, wurde in der St. Barbara-Kirche in Kuttenberg begraben und hinterliess eine Wittwe Namens Johanna, wahrscheinlich aber keine Kinder. Da er ausdrücklich als Geiger bezeichnet wird, durfte er auch Geigen gemacht haben. Eine gute Laute von ihm besitzt Bohuslav Lantner in Prag.
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