author
George Hart
1839–1891
A leading Victorian expert on violins, this London dealer and writer helped turn the history of great instrument makers into lively reading for musicians and collectors alike. His best-known book, The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators, remained a well-known reference for years.
1 Audiobook
The Violin Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators
by George Hart
About the author
Born in London in 1839, George Hart learned the violin trade from his father, John Thomas Hart. He became a respected violin dealer and expert, and is remembered today for writing about the craft, history, and makers of the violin in a way that reached both specialists and general readers.
His best-known work is The Violin: Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators, first published in the 1870s. He also wrote The Violin and Its Music. His books drew attention to celebrated makers such as Stradivari, Guarneri, and Amati, and helped shape English-language interest in fine violins during the late 19th century.
Hart died in 1891. Although he was closely connected to violin making, sources describe him especially as a dealer, connoisseur, and author whose writing became a standard point of reference for readers interested in the instrument and its makers.