Louis Guersan (1700-1770) was born in France. His stepfather was Claude Pierry. Between the years 1730 and 1760 Guersan lived in Paris, working as a luthier and instrument repair technician for the opera orchestra of the French royal court.
Guersan’s instruments are usually slightly smaller than standard size. The body of his instruments is relatively narrower; the front and back show influences of the German style; the arching tends to be more rectangular; the arching of the front and the hardness of the wood show varying details. The sound holes also vary from instrument to instrument, sometimes very wide, sometimes straight and sometimes slightly slanted. The scrolls show intricate carvings, and the purflings also reveal a mature craftsmanship. As for the ribs, Guersan used the inlay rib technique of the Belgian system. Apart from violins, Guersan also made a number of outstanding cellos. His cellos are of moderate sizes with a beautiful exterior, usually of a reddish brown color, revealing skillful craftsmanship and artistry.
Not only was Guersan a luthier, he also taught many outstanding students, including Benoist Fleury, Jean Nicolas Lambert,Francois Le Jeune (1720- 1785), Joseph Nicolas Leclerc (1720-1780) and Antoine Saint Paul (1740-1790).
Guersan is most famous for his experimentation with varnishes in the history of violin making. He chose varnishes that are bright and lustrous, ranging from light yellow to a rose color to reddish brown. The texture is usually very thin and highly transparent. Guersan’s choice of varnishes was considered very trendy at the time, and his method was followed by his pupils and many of his contemporaries. This was also an important contribution Guersan made to the Paris school of violin making.
Hint: 按Esc鍵或點擊此方框以外區域均可關閉說明