My brother just sent me a photo of a picture he painted of me in 1632, getting my fave axe out of its case:
I fondly remember the hat, it was a favorite, and of course, the all-black outfit was something not every man could afford (black dye was very expensive at the time; there is a reason black formal wear is a long-standing tradition among well dressed men).
I had forgotten all about posing for this picture; my brother and I have had many names and experiences over the centuries in order to avoid the threat of having our longevity discovered and being lynched as demons or worse. I was much thinner in those days! But he has always been an artist, and I a musician.
The instrument itself was made by Paolo Ancio Ferraio in Cremona, around 1630. It was a Scorte Private, in fact, I had to travel from the Low Countries to Italy to visit the PAF Luthierie and Wood Library to pick out the woods and specify the various features. Paolo was a very nice guy, and made the whole process very simple. I even got to specify the type of inlays and the varnish I wanted.
Unfortunately, Paolo only had black tolex cases, there was no paisley...
You, dear reader, are the only one with whom I'm sharing my secret. Please keep it in strictest confidence!
I fondly remember the hat, it was a favorite, and of course, the all-black outfit was something not every man could afford (black dye was very expensive at the time; there is a reason black formal wear is a long-standing tradition among well dressed men).
I had forgotten all about posing for this picture; my brother and I have had many names and experiences over the centuries in order to avoid the threat of having our longevity discovered and being lynched as demons or worse. I was much thinner in those days! But he has always been an artist, and I a musician.
The instrument itself was made by Paolo Ancio Ferraio in Cremona, around 1630. It was a Scorte Private, in fact, I had to travel from the Low Countries to Italy to visit the PAF Luthierie and Wood Library to pick out the woods and specify the various features. Paolo was a very nice guy, and made the whole process very simple. I even got to specify the type of inlays and the varnish I wanted.
Unfortunately, Paolo only had black tolex cases, there was no paisley...
You, dear reader, are the only one with whom I'm sharing my secret. Please keep it in strictest confidence!
