To Contact the David Gusset Studio Guest book:   Guest Book Write: 1611 Lincoln Street Eugene, Oregon, USA 97401-3914 Hours by appointment Telephone: (541)342-2772

David Gusset Instrument Design violin, cello, viola, David Gusset, David Gussett, violoncello, stringed instruments,Stradivari, Stradivarius, Cremona, Guarneri, Guarnerius, instrument maker, history, Italian, Amati,AFVBM, violin varnish, design, luthier, making Geometric analysis of the Stradivari contralto viola form of 1690. Click on drawing for detailed view Leonardo da Vinci's early 16th century illustration based on the natural proportions of the human body as described by Marcus Vitruvius, first century A.D. Roman writer on architecture. Geometric design for a modern viola, based on studies of instruments of the Amati family. Click on drawing for detailed view Note: Uncovering the mysteries of classical Greek and Roman arts, architecture and mathematics held great fascination for the Italian Renaissance. Mathematics was the universal language of expression for concepts such as "ideal beauty" and "divine proportion" to artists, architects and craftspersons. Andrea Amati's system of design for the violin was probably no exception. With the aid of compass and divider he designed and all but perfected the violin as we know it today.