English Treble Viola da Gamba - Image 1

The treble viol was the soprano instrument played in the consorts (ensembles) of viols that were popular in England during the 16th and 17th centuries. A typical consort of viols might include one or more each of the treble, tenor, and bass sizes of this flat-backed, fretted, six-stringed, bowed instrument that was held between the player's knees. Wealthy English families during the Elizabethan period sometimes owned complete 'chests of viols'--consorts of six matched instruments, usually made by the same maker and produced as a set. This particular treble viol is the only surviving instrument by John Hoskins, who is better known as one of the finest English miniaturists of the Jacobean period. Documents dating from 1700 mention the existence of at least three viols made by the British artist, but whether or not this is one of those three remains unknown.