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A Brief History of Violin Makers
The violin emerged in Italy in the early 1500's. The earliest important
violin makers were the northern Italians Gasparo da Salo [1540-1609] and
Giovanni Maggini [1579-c. 1630] from Brescia and Andrea Amati [c.1520-c.
1611] from Cremona. The craft of violin making reached unprecedented artistic
heights in the 17th and early 18th centuries in the workshops of the Italians
Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri, both from Cremona, and the Austrian
Jacob Stainer.
Guarneri (in latin, Guarnerius), Italian family of violin makers,
one of whom, Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri, known as Giuseppe del Gesu, is
regarded as second only to the great Italian violin maker Antonio Stradivari.
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The Guarneri Family.
Andrea Guarneri (1626-98), who learned violin-making in the Cremona
workshop of the noted violin maker Niccolo Amati. Pietro Giovanni Guarneri
(1655-1728), Andrea's elder son, settled in Mantua and is known as Peter
of Mantua; his instruments are particularly highly regarded.
Giuseppe Giovanni Battista Guarneri (1666-1739?), Andrea's younger son.
Both made a number of technical changes in their fathers Amati-influenced
designs.
Pietro Guarneri (1695-1765?), Giuseppe's son known as Peter of Venice,
utilized some features of the Venetian violin-making school.
Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri (1687-1745), Giuseppe's other son, gained his
appellation Giuseppe del Gesu (Giuseppe of Jesus) from the sacred monogram
IHS (the beginning of the Greek word for Jesus), which he placed after
his name on his labels. His violins are noted for their rich tone and
have been prized by such players as the Italian virtuoso Nicolo Paganini.
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Jeds copy of a
Peter Guarneri
1735 |
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Antonio Stradivari
Born in 1644, and established his shop in Cremona, Italy, where he remained
active until his death in 1737.
His interpretation of geometry and design for the violin serves
as a conceptual model for violin makers to this day.
Stradivari also made harps, guitars, violas, and cellos.
He made more than 1,100 instruments in all by current estimates
and about 650 of these survive today.
Pictured left. The back of Jeds copy of a Stradivari
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