Nicolò Amati
Encyclopedia
Niccolò Amati was an Italian
luthier
from Cremona
.
.
Nicolò Amati also made important contributions to the world of violin making not just by what he made, but by whom he taught. Initially having no sons to carry on the family business as was traditional at the time, Nicolò Amati was one of the first to take apprentices from outside his family into his workshop. Andrea Guarneri
, who eventually founded the Guarneri Family of violin makers, was a pupil of Nicolò. Also at least one Antonio Stradivari
label, dated 1666, reads, “Alumnus Nicolais Amati” - student of Nicolò Amati. but it has always been controversial whether he was an actual apprentice of Nicolò Amati or merely considered himself a student and admirer of his work. Other documented pupils of Nicolò include Matthias Klotz, Jacob Railich, Bartolomeo Pasta, Bartolomeo Cristofori, Giacomo Gennaro, and Giovanni Battista Rogeri. Nicolò’s son, Hieronymus II (often referred to in English as Girolamo) (1649–1740), was the last of his line to achieve distinction.
The Latin
forms of the first names, Andreas, Antonius, Hieronymus, and Nicolaus, were generally used on the violin labels, and the family name was sometimes Latinized as Amatus.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
from Cremona
Cremona
Cremona is a city and comune in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po River in the middle of the Pianura Padana . It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local City and Province governments...
.
Biography
Nicolò Amati was the fifth son of Girolamo Amati and the grandson of Andrea Amati, the founder of the Amati Family of violin makers. Of all the Amati Family violins, those of Nicolò are often considered most suitable for modern playing. As a young man his instruments closely followed the concepts of his father's, with a relatively small model and high arching rising nearly to a ridge in the centre of both the front and back. Starting in 1630 he gradually began to show signs of originality, which by 1640 were expressed in what is now known as the 'Grand Amati' pattern. Well curved, long-cornered, and strongly and cleanly purfled, these instruments represent perhaps the height of elegance in violinmaking, and were characterized by mathematically derived outlines and transparent amber-colored varnishVarnish
Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...
.
Nicolò Amati also made important contributions to the world of violin making not just by what he made, but by whom he taught. Initially having no sons to carry on the family business as was traditional at the time, Nicolò Amati was one of the first to take apprentices from outside his family into his workshop. Andrea Guarneri
Andrea Guarneri
Andrea Guarneri was an Italian luthier and founder of the house of Guarneri violin makers.-Biography:Thought to be born in 1626 to Bartolomo Guarneri in the parish of Cremona, Italy, very little is known about Andrea Guarneri's family of origin...
, who eventually founded the Guarneri Family of violin makers, was a pupil of Nicolò. Also at least one Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian luthier and a crafter of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas, and harps. Stradivari is generally considered the most significant artisan in this field. The Latinized form of his surname, Stradivarius, as well as the colloquial, "Strad", is...
label, dated 1666, reads, “Alumnus Nicolais Amati” - student of Nicolò Amati. but it has always been controversial whether he was an actual apprentice of Nicolò Amati or merely considered himself a student and admirer of his work. Other documented pupils of Nicolò include Matthias Klotz, Jacob Railich, Bartolomeo Pasta, Bartolomeo Cristofori, Giacomo Gennaro, and Giovanni Battista Rogeri. Nicolò’s son, Hieronymus II (often referred to in English as Girolamo) (1649–1740), was the last of his line to achieve distinction.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
forms of the first names, Andreas, Antonius, Hieronymus, and Nicolaus, were generally used on the violin labels, and the family name was sometimes Latinized as Amatus.