Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 18.djvu/706

STRADELLA. 610 STRAFrORD. from Kichard, "Stradella et les Contarini," in Le ilenestrel (Paris, 1865 and 1866). The opera Stradella, by Flotow, is founded on Bonnet- Bourdelot's story of an incident in the life of Stradella, in his Bistoire de la musiqtie et de ses effets (1715). He is thought to have been murdered in Genoa, about IGSl. STRADIVARI, strii'de-v-i're, or STRAD'I- VA'RIUS, AxTOMio (e.lG44-173T). The most famous violin-maker of the Cremonese School. He was born in Cremona, and was probably ap- prenticed at a very early age to Nicohi Amati, who at that time was regarded as the greatest of all the Cremonese masters. His first instru- ments were made between 1070 and 1685 and were largely of the Amati model, in consequence of which they are usually described as 'Aniatese Strads.' They are distinguished by their lack of symmetrj' compared with his later works, their plain wood, and generally squatty design. About 1685 his originality began to assert itself, and by the following year he had evidently ac- quired his own peculiar style, which subsequent makers have largely used as a model. The period known as the 'long Strad' period was from 160O to 1700, and incidentally it may be pointed out that the instruments made during that time were not any longer in design than those of the following years, from which they dififered only in their treatment. For instance, the middle bouts, edges, and corners were longer and more graceful, and were possessed of a contour which has been described as a mingling of the feminine character of Nicola Amati's work and the mascu- line massive style of Stradivari from 1700 to 1737. In 1684 Nicola Amati died and bequeathed all his wood, models, and tools to Stradivari, thus providing the latter with a large and choice stock of tempered and seasoned Avood. which was more than anything else responsible for the im- proved quality of his instruments dating from 1685. All the work of Stradivari was marked by minuteness of detail ; the high quality of the wood and varnish ; and the beauty of tone, which has a sympathetic quality altogether dis- tinct from the best worli of any other maker. His violins must have numbered fully two thousand, although comparatively few speci- mens are now in existence. He died at Cremona. — Francesco Stradivari (1671-1743), the second son of Antonio, was born at Cremona. He carried on his father's business, adopting Antonio's model of the period of 1700-1712, and produced instruments of a commanding style and an invariably good tone. Like his father, he was exceedingly careful in the artistic finish of his work, using wood of the finest quality and a rich red-brown varnish. — OMonoNO Str.divari (1679- 1742), the fourth child of Antonio, was chiefly remarkable for his skill in repairing valuable instruments. Consult: F6tis, Anioinc Htradivari (Brussels, 1856) ; Niederheitmann, Cremona (Leipzig, 1897). STRAF'FORD, Thomas Wentwortii, first Earl of (1593-1641). An English statesman. He •was born April 13, 1593, in London, of an old Yorkshire family. He was educated at Saint John's College. Cambridge, and later (1607) be- came a student of the Inner Temple. He was married in 1611 and knighted in the same year, after which he traveled on the Continent. In 1614 his father died' and he succeeded to the title of baronet and a large estate. He was a member of the last three Parliaments of .lames I. In the Parliaments of 1621 and 1624 he supported the Crown against those who were trying to force England into a war with Spain. In the first Parliament of Charles I. he opposed Bucking- ham, who had now adopted the same policy of war with Spain, yet he was not in sympathy with Eliot and the I'uritans. In the Parliament of 1628 he became the real leader of the House of Connnons, though no formal lead- ership was recognized in those days. He intro- duced a bill similar in tenor to the Petition of Eights ( q.v. ) , but containing no declaration that the law had been violated in the past. Charles, however, refused to accept it, and Went«orth, unwilling to resist the King further, allowed the opposition to pass into other and more hostile hands. He supported the Petition of Right and was then apparently satisfied that the 'ancient government' of the kingdom had been restored. In June, 1628, he was made baron, on December 10th viscount, and on December 25th president of the Council of the North. On November 10, 1629, he was made member of the Privy Council. As president of the Council of the North he was the royal executive in that region and he exer- cised his authority vigorously and a little rough- l}' in checking insubordination. His anti- Puritan sympathies had already drawn him into intimate relations with Laud, which ripened into a life- long friendship. On .lanuary 12, 1632, Went- worth was made Lord Deputy of Ireland and he went to Dublin in July, 1633. His administra- tion lasted six years before events in England drew his attention away. His task was a difficult one and his actions were arbitrary and often har.sh, but on the whole extremely beneficial. Trade and industry were encouraged, disorders and numerous abuses were suppressed, and Ire- land enjoyed unprecedented material prosperity. In 1639 Vcntworth visited England. On Janu- ary 12, 1640, he was created Earl of Strafford, and thenceforth he was the King's most influen- tial adviser. Already the Scottish troubles had reached an acute stage. On account of his long absence, Strafford failed to appreciate the changed temper of the English people, and habits of arbitrary rule had grown ujion him. He ad- vocated the strongest measures and hurried back to Ireland to raise money and troops for Charles. This was made the basis of his impeachment on the meeting of the Long Parliament. Charles promised him that if he would come to London to meet the charges, he "should not suffer in his person, honor, or fortune." Inasmuch as the charges against him, even if proved, did not con- stitute treason as deflned by the statute of Ed- ward III., Parliament changed the impeachment into a bill of attainder, though Strafford was still heard in his own defense. His doom was sealed when Parliament discovered that Charles was plotting to rescue bim by force. On May 8, 1641, the attainder bill was passed and on the 10th Charles, daring to resist no longer, signed it with Strafford's consent. Strafford was be- headed two days later. Our estimate of Strafford's character will al- ways rest principally upon his own recorded words. They Anil be found in The Earl of Straf- ford's Letters and Despatches, with an Essay Towards< His Life, ed. by Eadcliffe (2 vols., Lon-