European chemists have unraveled the secret of varnish, which covered the Stradivarius violin

[Евгений]

December 11, 2009

Unique-sounding violins of Antonio Stradivari for many years gives no rest to the researchers. According to one version, the secret that 93-year-old artist took with him to the grave still in 1737, is a special varnish. European scientists finally managed to solve its structure.

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to solve one of the secrets of Stradivarius group of chemists from France and Germany under the leadership of Frenchman Jean-Philippe Esharov allowed ultramodern equipment, through which were analyzed five instruments, made by masters of Cremona in different years.
It is believed that Stradivarius for 70 years created the 1,1 thousands of musical instruments, but with the XVIII century to the present day preserved about 650 of them.
The study took four years. However revealed that the unique sounding violins betrayed not paint coating - in the manufacture of varnish Stradivari used no unusual ingredients. The researchers found that the tools "were treated with two layers, with the second added pigments. First, the tool was covered with a "base" of sikkativnogo oil, then a layer conventional oil varnish.

Thus, says Le Temps, the secret of the special sound of Stradivarius violins still not been discovered, which means "lovers of violin, musicians and scientists will be able to continue the persistent search for the secrets of old masters of Cremona."