Montagnana, Domenico

1700-1740

 

Violin-maker who was an apprentice to Antonius Stradivarius. He is not so well known as other master violin-makers owing to the insertion of false signatures into his instruments by unscrupulous dealers, but he ranks with Carlo Bergonzi. He worked at Cremona and later at Venice, where he made violas and superb violoncellos, gaining from Charles Reade the title of the mighty Venetian. Though the pupil of Stradivarius, his instruments are quite different in shape, with much larger and bolder scroll and a varnish of wonderful smoothness and beauty. His instruments are now very rare and valuable.