Books › A dictionary of violin makers, 1896 › scan 48
Scan 48
A dictionary of violin makers, 1896
26 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 40. See the scan on archive.org.
1Grulli, Pietro. Was working in Cremona in 1883.
3Guadagnini, Antonio, son of Gaetano, grandson of Carlo Guadagnini, b. 1831; d. 1881 at Turin. He made a great many instruments.
5Guadagnini, Carlo (?), son of Gaetano, grandson of Giambattista Guadagnini. A maker of guitars at Turin about 1780. He also repaired instruments. His three sons, Gaetano, Giuseppe, and Felice, were all makers, but chiefly worked at repairing old instruments.
7Guadagnini, Felice, son of Carlo Guadagnini. A maker in Turin about 1835. His work was excellent, he made good useful instruments, with well-cut scroll, but the varnish hard and cold.
9Guadagnini, Francesco and Giuseppe, sons of Antonio Guadagnini. Makers at Turin.
11Guadagnini, Gaetano, son of Giambattista, grandson of Lorenzo. Worked at Turin about 1750. He made few new instruments, but chiefly repaired old ones. His son, Carlo, was also a maker.
13Guadagnini, Gaetano. See "Carlo Guadagnini."
15Guadagnini, Giambattista, son of Lorenzo, b. 1711 at Cremona; d. Sept. 18, 1786, at Turin. Possibly worked under Antonio Stradivari in Cremona before he accompanied his father, about 1730, to Milan. Later he went with him to Piacenza and worked there many years, but left when his father died, and went to Parma, where he was appointed instrument maker to the Duke; but when the pensions to the artists of the Duke's Court were discontinued, in 1772, he went to Turin and worked there till his death, 1786. A pupil of his father, his violins and basses show the same form, the same qualities, and the same defects. He followed the Stradivari pattern, and his instruments stand high in public estimation. He often suffers in reputation from having the same Christian name as his uncle, Giovanni Battista, Lorenzo's brother, whose work was much inferior. He used wood of the finest quality, and the varnish, which shows unmistakable signs of inferiority to that of the great makers, was that brilliant golden-red colour which is often considered a characteristic of a "Guadagnini"; the tone is not large, the work is well and carefully done. Labels: "Joannes Baptista Guadagnini Cremonensis fecit Taurini, 1776"; a similar one dated 1775; and "Joannes Baptista Guadagnini. Cremonensis fecit Taurini. Alumnus Antoni Stradivari. G.B.G. 1780." He had two sons, Gaetano and Giuseppe, both makers.
17Guadagnini, Giovanni Battista, brother of Lorenzo Guadagnini. Worked in Milan, Piacenza, and Turin about 1695 to 1775. He made a great number of instruments, of ordinary workmanship, but some violins are well finished and the tone is good; they are made on a small pattern, slightly arched, the sound-holes long and well cut, the varnish a rich dark red colour, very different to that used by his nephew Giambattista. Labels: "Joannes Guadagnini fecit Placentiæ, anno 1747," and "Joannes Baptista Guadagnini Placentinus fecit Mediolani, 1775"; another label in a violin is dated 1731.
19Guadagnini, Giuseppe, second son of Giambattista, grandson of Lorenzo, b. about 1736; d. about 1805. First a pupil of his father in Turin (about 1751), then worked at Milan, Como, and Parma (about 1793). Had not so much ability as other members of his family; he made a quantity of violins, altos, and violoncellos on the Stradivari pattern. His work was much inferior to that of his father, whose label he often used, and consequently have less market value; but his instruments generally have a good tone.
21Guadagnini, Giuseppe. See "Carlo Guadagnini."
23Guadagnini, Guiseppe. See "Francesco Guadagnini."
25Guadagnini, Lorenzo, b. at Piacenza (?) about 1665; worked till about 1740. A well-known pupil of Antonio Stradivari at Cremona, he worked there for many years; later went to Milan (about 1730) and then to Piacenza. His instruments are much liked, especially the violins; generally made on a small pattern, slightly arched, of good proportions, the wood of good quality, with very beautiful golden-red varnish; the purfling and corners rather heavy, the scroll not so well cut as that of Stradivari, the tone rich and powerful. His instruments, when in good condition, are of a high commercial value. Labels: "Laurentius Guadagnini Cremonæ Alumnus Stradivari fecit, anno Domini 17—," and Laurentius Guadagnini pater, Alumnus Antoni Stradivari fecit Placentiæ, anno 1745"; similar
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