Niccola Amati Italian violin maker Date of Birth: 03.12.1596 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Nicolò Amati
2. Amati Violins
3. Andrea Amati and his Sons
4. Nicolò Amati

Biography of Nicolò Amati

Nicolò Amati was an Italian violin maker from the renowned Amati family in Cremona. The Amati family was known for their craftsmanship in creating stringed, bowed instruments, particularly violins, which are highly valued even today.

Amati Violins

The Amati violins are highly esteemed by amateurs due to their pleasant, pure, and delicate tone, although not particularly powerful. These small-sized violins are beautifully decorated and have a distinct shape with significant curves at the top and bottom, resulting in a narrow resonant sound.

Andrea Amati and his Sons

The founder of the Cremonese violin workshop, Andrea Amati, hailed from an ancient family that lived in Cremona in the 16th century. His sons, Antonio and Girolamo, continued their father's work. In their workshop, they created the famous violin, which was intended for Henry IV and is still in existence today, bearing the marking of the year 1505.

Nicolò Amati

Nicolò, the son of Girolamo, further perfected the form and sound of the Cremonese violins. He also established a distinguished reputation in the history of art as a teacher of the renowned Antonio Stradivari. However, Nicolò's son, Girolamo, was unable to maintain the family's reputation, leading to the closure of the famous workshop.

Reference: Vasilievsky, "Die Violine und ihre Meister" (Leipzig, 1869).