Abel, by John Nixon (1787), entitled 'A Solo on the Viola da Gamba'. The instrument looks like a cello, with four pegs. In Peter Holman's book, 'Life After Death', we learn that Abel performed solos on the viol, but played bass lines on the cello in orchestras. He co-directed with J. C. Bach. When Abel directed, it was from the keyboard. When J. C. was directing, Abel played cello in the ensemble. Professional gambists at this stage - even the most famous - played and performed on the cello. Earlier on, Antoine Forqueray switched from the basse de violon to the viol and became one of its greatest  players. '..having had the honour of playing the basse de violon before the King (Louis XIV)..He ordered that he (Forqueray) should be taught to play the Bass viol...at present, one finds few who can equal him.' (Mercure galant, April 1682).