Italian Violin Makers (Italian Luthiers)

One of da Salo's violins created in 1574 c. is considered one of the best violins of all times. It is known for the astonishing power and remarkable sound. It was first owned by Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria and from 1841 by Ole Bull one of the most outstanding virtuoso of the world.

- Giovan Giacomo Dalla Corna and his family, active from 1510 to1560

- the Micheli family of violin makers:
Zanetto Micheli (1490 - 1560)
Pellegrino Micheli (1520 - 1607)
Giovanni Micheli (1562 - 1616)
Francesco Micheli (1579 - 1615)
and the brother-in-law Battista Doneda (1529 - 1610)

- Giovanni Paolo Maggini (1580 - 1630) from Botticino near Brescia, pupil of Gasparo da Salò.

- Francesco Ruggieri (1620-c. 1695), a pupil of Nicolo Amati. He was the first and greatest of a Cremonese family of violin makers. His violons were produced from 1655 to 1718 and have a rich, full tone. His name appears in various forms on the labels, Ruggeri, Ruggerius, Rugier, Regeri, Ruger.

The Cremona School

- Amati family, founder of the Cremonese school of violin-making:
Andrea Amati (1500-1577), laid the basis modern violin-making. His grandson had Antonio Stradivari as a pupil.

His production does not exceed 24 violins, of which few have survived. The oldest confirmed surviving violin in the world, the "Charles IX", was made by him in 1564. Instruments dated after 1584 are said to be the work of his sons Antonius and Hieronymus, and instruments known to be by Andrea are not numerous.

Antonio Amati (1540-1607)
Hieronymous Amati I (1561-1630)
Nicolo Amati (1596-1684)
Hieronymous Amati II (1649-1740).

- Guarneri family of violin makers of Cremona:
Andrea Guarneri (1626- 1698),
Pietro of Mantua (1655-1720),
Giuseppe Guarneri (Joseph filius Andreae) (1666-1739),
Pietro Guarneri (of Venice) (1695-1762).

Giuseppe (1698-1744), known as Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu. Guarnerius is the Latinized form of the family name and Joseph the Hebrew form of Giuseppe. "del Gesu" was added to the name because he signed his labels with a cross and the letters IHS, the Greek abbreviation for Jesus (IHS). Guarnerius del Gesu was by far the most illustrious violon-maker of the family, regarded as second only to the great Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari. Many soloists prefer his violins to those of Stradivari due to their dark tone and greater power. The estimate of his total production is not more than 250 violins, of which only 150 violins are known to exist.

- Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) of Cremona, brought the violin to its highest level of perfection. He produced about 500 violins. However, the best Stradivari violins were made after 1700. The most famous, and certainly the most pristine violin, the "Le Messie" (also known as the 'Salabue'), was made in 1716, and never used. It is now located in the Ashmolean Museum of Oxford.

- Bergonzi family of Cremona, of which the most illustrious member was Carlo (1683-1747), a contemporary of Antonio Stradivari. Though not as refined, his instruments are greatly esteemed and often compared to those of his masters, Guarneri and Stradivari.

The Neapolitan School

- Alessandro Gagliano (active from c. 1700 to c. 1735), is considered the founder of the Neapolitan school of violin making. He was a pupil of Nicolo Amati and Antonio Stradivari and founded his own shop in Naples after returning from Cremona. His violins are said to be very mellow on the G and D strings and silvery on the two top strings. Several of his violins have survived, but instruments in good condition are scarce.

The Milanese School

Violin makers from Milan include Giovanni Grancino, Carlo Giuseppe Testore and son Carlo Antonio Testore, all born in the mid 17th century. Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi was an important Milanese luthier of the 18th century.

The Venetian School

Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (1711-1786), a Venetian violin maker. Other important violin makers in the Venetian school include Domenico Montagnana, Sanctus Seraphin and Carlo Annibale Tononi.

Italian Violins
Masters from the Cremona School

By Daniel Wright

Remarkable craftsmanship is evident in the Italian violins of old. The devotion of the early Italian luthiers to this instrument is evident. One only has to listen or gaze upon a violin made during this era to see that it has earned the reputation of a "holy grail" of violins. In this article, a brief look at three master crafters from the Italian school of Cremona will be examined.

Nicolo Amati, born 1596, was the son and disciple of Girolamo Amati. He is considered the finest luthier of his family. Among the many beloved attributes of Amati's violins is their brilliant varnish in shades from yellow-brown to a golden red. Equally captivating is their tone which is penetrating and sweet but, because of the higher arching, lack the sheer power of a Stradivari. The length of his violins were mostly 14 inches or slightly under. Many of his family were lost to the plague, but Nicolo survived to become the master of the greatest violin maker who ever lived, Antonio Stradivari. Nicolo Amati died in 1684.

Antonio Stradivari was making violins up to the year of his death in 1737. He often inscribed his age on the labels, with one displaying "d'Anni 93" as a reference to his age of 93 at the time of the violin's creation. Born in 1644, Stradivari was described as a tall, lean man wearing a white wool cap with leather apron. This discription was given by the violin virtuoso, Polledro. Stradivari violins show evidence of being a pupil of Nicolo Amati. It is alleged that Amanti began to teach him at 11 years old.

Carlo Bergonzi, born 1676, worked in the workshop of Antonio Stradivari (in whose house he lived after 1746). It is said that he was the favorite pupil of Stradivari. Bergonzi's violins have a magnificent, brilliant tone capable of reaching the corners of the largest concert hall and are well-liked as concert instruments. Bergonzi inherited all the working materials of Stradivari in 1742. Bergonzi died in 1747.

The Cremona school of violin making is highly esteemed in the violin world today and it is due in no small part to the love of the violin demonstrated by these three Italian luthiers in their workmanship which has stood the test of time.

If you're browsing for violins, be sure to consider one of the fine Italian violins available at Ye Olde Violin Shoppe such as the Amati violin. Home to the master luthiers of yesterday and today, as well as a violin forum!