Marcus Snoeck

Marcus "Marc" Snoeck (30 June 1694, {Brussels?} — 31 March 1762, Brussels, Belgium), nicknamed "Broché," was a Belgium luthier, the fourth child of Egidius Snoeck (ca.1660—1734). Trained by his father, Marcus served at the Music Chapel of the Court of Brussels between 1722 and the late 1740s, active primarily as a luthier but occasionally as a composer and balletmaster. His printed labels typically read: "Marcus Broché à Bruxelles au Roi David, l'An 17__" In 1722, Marcus Snoeck first joined the royal court as a luthier, promoted to Director of Instruments two years later. There are conflicting historiographical sources regarding Snoeck's retirement date, with some correspondence indicating he served the Brussels Court for over thirty years. However, a curious double label discovered in a cello at Muziekinstrumentenmuseum's collection contradicts this account: "Cette Bas par MARC. SNOECK réparé povr faier voier à ces envieux. mon adresse est près L'EGLISE DE S. GERY A BRVXELLES, encien luthier 1748" (roughly translates as "This base repaired by Marc Snoeck to show envious people my address is near the Saint Géry Church in Brussels, [u]former luthier 1748[/u]," indicating Marcus retired after about 25 years.) Snoeck passed away, aged 68, after a lengthy illness, survived by his wife and seven children. At least one of his sons, Henri-Augustin Snoeck (13 September 1732 — c.1794, Brussels, Belgium), also became a luthier. [u]Marcus Snoeck's instruments[/u] Most of them are in the Musical Instruments Museum's collection of César Charles Snoeck (1832-1898), a descendant from the same family: 4× Cellos, dated 1718, 1721, 1722, and 1733, at Musical Instruments Museum (MIM) in Brussels, Belgium c.1720 Cello at the Museum Of Fine Arts Boston in the USA c.1740 Violin, assigned to Marcus Snoeck and the unknown maker, at MIM in Brussels 1761 Cello, ascribed by Marcus and Egidius Snoeck at MIM pre-1762 Bass Violin at MIM 2× Double Basses, dated 1736 and 1741, at MIM in Brussels