Bass Viola da Gamba
Viols, the most esteemed bowed instruments of the late Renaissance, were only gradually displaced by the violin family. Viols differ from violins chiefly in shape, in number of strings and tuning, and in having fretted necks. All viols are played in an upright position between the knees or on the legs ("gamba" means "leg"), and the bow is held palm upward. The sound is less brilliant and quieter than that of the violin family of instruments. Chamber music for a consort of four to six viols was composed during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and solo works for the bass viol were being played until nearly the end of the eighteenth century.
Andreas Jais was from a Tyrolean family of instrument builders active in Bolzano in the eighteenth century. Despite its unoriginal narrow neck and fingerboard (replacements from a conversion to the cello), this instrument maintains its original oblong and curvilinear shape, a feature typical of instruments from this region.
Description: Seven strings tuned AA, D, G, c, e, a, d1; unusual lobed lower bouts; oval rosette inserted above flame-shaped soundholes contains a double-headed eagle and unidentified coat of arms; two-piece table of Alpine spruce with very fine grain widening toward the flanks; two-piece back and ribs of curly maple with irregular figure; reddish-brown varnish; neck and fittings are recent; grafted pegbox terminates in a lion's head; manuscript label possibly spurious. (L. Libin, 1992)
Andreas Jais was from a Tyrolean family of instrument builders active in Bolzano in the eighteenth century. Despite its unoriginal narrow neck and fingerboard (replacements from a conversion to the cello), this instrument maintains its original oblong and curvilinear shape, a feature typical of instruments from this region.
Description: Seven strings tuned AA, D, G, c, e, a, d1; unusual lobed lower bouts; oval rosette inserted above flame-shaped soundholes contains a double-headed eagle and unidentified coat of arms; two-piece table of Alpine spruce with very fine grain widening toward the flanks; two-piece back and ribs of curly maple with irregular figure; reddish-brown varnish; neck and fittings are recent; grafted pegbox terminates in a lion's head; manuscript label possibly spurious. (L. Libin, 1992)
Artwork Details
- Title: Bass Viola da Gamba
- Maker: attributed to Andreas Jais (German, Mittenwald 1685–1753 Tölz)
- Date: early 18th century
- Geography: Absam, Austria
- Culture: Austrian
- Medium: Wood
- Dimensions: 47 1/4 × 14 5/8 × 9 3/4 in. (120 × 37.1 × 24.8 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Bowed
- Credit Line: Gift of Janos Scholz, in memory of his son, Walter Rosen Scholz, and in honor of the Centennial of The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1988
- Object Number: 1988.365
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Jacob Stainer
ca. 1660
Austrian
18th century
Daniel Achatius Stadlmann
mid-18th century
Joachim Tielke
ca. 1685
Norwegian
1786
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.