Giovanni Paolo Maggini

Giovanni Paolo Maggini (1580—c.1630) was an Italian luthier, one of the crucial violin-makers of the "Brescian school." Born in the small village of Botticino, Giovanni relocated to Brescia around 1586 to apprentice with a renowned master Gasparo Da Salò. After twenty years of assisting and copying Gasparo, Maggini began working independently. The luthier experimented extensively to improve tonal qualities and tried numerous different wood types. He excelled in building unusually large violins and violas—their "stronger" sound might've inspired Antonio Stradivari's Long Pattern violins and certain 1737–'42 instruments by Guarneri Del Gesu. Most historians agree that Maggini died in the 1629–'31 plague epidemic that obliterated northern Italy. Giovanni didn't have many direct apprentices, but he likely taught Antonio Mariani. The luthier often left his labels without dates, which makes attributing his work particularly tricky. There are over 150 instruments known today: violins, ten violas, several cellos, basses. Maggini's finest builds are particularly valued today, praised for exemplary craftsmanship: flawlessly curved and finished F-holes, elegant varnish ranging in color from transparent golden to reddish-brown, meticulously done double-purfling. Some even come with intricately ornamented backs: St. Andrew's crosses, tableaux, medallions, crests, etc. In recent times, however, many of these renowned Magginis fell a subject of controversy after dendrochronology studies (an experimental technique of dating wood by comparison to growth rings of similar woods) reveal them as built around the 1650s. (The accuracy of such comparative analysis is still questionable, though.)