Camillo Camilli

Along with his contemporary Tomaso Balestrieri , Camillo Camilli is considered one of the finest 18th-century makers of the Mantua school. His work is strongly inspired by Pietro Guarneri , who made an enormous impact on Mantuan violin making upon his ...Read More arrival from Cremona in the 1680s, but by the time Camilli was old enough to begin apprenticeship Guarneri had died, and in all likelihood his primary teacher was Antonio Zanotti . While Balestrieri's instruments are highly regarded for their powerful sound, Camilli deserves praise for his superior craftsmanship, which features appealing materials and a lovely golden-orange varnish married with the high arching of Guarneri and Amati-inspired scrolls. Violins are relatively common, but his violas and cellos are virtually unknown. Read Less