Paris School
Pierre Saint-Paul
Paris, d. 1772
Worked in the rue de la Comédie Française up to 1741. Later in the rue Saint André des Arts at the sign ‘A la lyre d’Apollon’. Violins of small model with pale yellow varnish of poor quality. Viols and cellos also recorded. The Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels has a pardessus de viole labelled: \u{2026} — John Dilworth
Auction price history
Highest auction price
| Type | Details | Sold | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violin | 35.5 cm Paris, 1746 | October 2009 | £3,600 |
| Violin | 35.5 cm Paris, 1741 | June 2008 | £5,385 |
| Violin | 36.1 cm Paris, 1749 (soundpost crack & head replaced) | December 2006 | £4,794 |
| Violin | Paris, 1760 | June 2005 | £5,143 |
Maker Overview
Life
Pierre SAINT-PAUL (worked circa 1728, died 1772) was a luthier active in Paris, France., he worked in the rue de la Comédie Française up to 1741. He later moved to the rue Saint André des Arts, where his shop was identified by the sign 'A la lyre d'Apollon'. Cecie Stainer notes his presence in the rue St.-André-des-Arts in 1742, and a violoncello label from 1741 indicates his address as rue de la Comedie Françoise. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also states he first resided in the Rue de la Comédie francaise, but controversially claims he moved to the Rue St. André des Arts in 1772, the year of his death, a date that conflicts with other sources. His work is mentioned in Bruni's Inventaire, and he was represented at the Belgian retrospective exhibition of 1878.
Characteristics
- Instruments
- Pierre Saint-Paul produced violins, six-stringed viols, violoncellos, and pardessus de viole.
- Workmanship
- His violins are often described as having a small model. Cecie Stainer notes a violoncello with 'rather poor workmanship' and 'yellow-greyish varnish'. John Dilworth describes his violins as having 'pale yellow varnish of poor quality'. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff corroborates this, mentioning 'schlechten, gelbgrauen Lack' (bad, yellow-grey varnish) and 'Rohheit der Ausführung' (roughness of execution), though he adds that his violins possess 'einen ziemlich guten Ton' (a rather good tone). Lütgendorff also states that his quintons were 'besser durchgeführt' (better executed).
- Labels
- Examples of his labels include: 'Pierre Saint-Paul, rue de la Comedie Françoise, Paris, 1741' (Stainer), 'Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint / André des Arts à Paris, 1742' (Dilworth, for a pardessus de viole in the Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels), and 'Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint / André des Arts à Paris, 1743 (A la lyre d'Apollon)' (Dilworth).
- The Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels has a pardessus de viole labelled: Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint
André des Arts à Paris, 1742John Dilworth - Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint
André des Arts à Paris, 1743 (A la lyre d’Apollon) Pierre Saint-Paul
rue de la Comédie française
Paris, 1741John Dilworth
Influence and legacy
- Museum Holdings: A pardessus de viole by Pierre Saint-Paul, dated 1742, is held in the Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels.
- Exhibitions: His work was featured at the Belgian retrospective exhibition of 1878.
- Mentions: His instruments are referenced in Bruni's Inventaire.
Biographies
The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:
John Dilworth+
SAINT-PAUL, Pierre Worked circa. 1728, died 1772 Paris France. Worked in the rue de la Comédie Française up to 1741. Later in the rue Saint André des Arts at the sign ‘A la lyre d’Apollon’. Violins of small model with pale yellow varnish of poor quality. Viols and cellos also recorded. The Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels has a pardessus de viole labelled: Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint / André des Arts à Paris, 1742 Other labels: Pierre Saint-Paul, rue Saint / André des Arts à Paris, 1743 (A la lyre d’Apollon) Pierre Saint-Paul / rue de la Comédie française / Paris, 1741
Cecie Stainer+
A maker in Paris about 1740. A violin of that date is known, also a six-stringed viol dated from the rue St.-Andre-des-Artsin 1742. In a violoncello, with yellow-greyish varnish, and of rather poor workmanship, is the label: “Pierre Saint-Paul, rue de la Comedie Françoise, Paris, 1741”
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff+
Seine Geigen haben kleines Patron und bei aller Rohheit der Ausführung einen ziemlich guten Ton, aber immer einen schlechten, gelbgrauen Lack. Besser sind seine Quintone durchgeführt. Er wohnte erst in der Rue de la Comédie francaise, seit 1772 in der Rue St. André des Arts und führte das Ladenschild: À la lyre d’Apollon. Eine Arbeit von ihm wird in Bruni’s Inventaire erwähnt; auch war er auf der belgischen retrospectiven Ausstellung von 1878 vertreten.
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Family
Antoine Saint-Paul Grandson
Working in Paris at the same time
Ambroise worked 1750–1810
Andrea Castagneri worked 1730–1762
Barbey worked 1720–1748
Benoit Fleury worked 1750–1792