How it began
Violin making in its modern form began in Cremona, in northern Italy, in the 16th century. Andrea Amati, who lived from about 1511 to 1580, was among the first generation of makers to add a fourth string to the violin and to create its standard form and sizes. The Musical Instrument Museum describes him as the founding father of the violin family. Early 16th-century Cremona had a sophisticated musical culture and many professional musicians.
How it spread
The craft passed down within the Amati family. Andrea's grandson Nicolo Amati, born in 1596, refined it further, and the Amati workshop became one of the finest violin ateliers in Europe. It trained many apprentices who became important builders, possibly including the young Antonio Stradivari. Stradivari, who lived from 1644 to 1737, varied the design and contributed to the rise of the cello as a solo instrument.
What changed first
The violin began as an instrument played only by professionals. Over time it was taken up by amateurs and accepted in aristocratic circles. The standardized sizes that came out of Cremona gave players and makers a common pattern to work from. The Metropolitan Museum of Art traces this change alongside the work of the Cremonese makers.
What lasted
Stradivari's instruments are still prized for their tone and workmanship. Older violins were later modernized to meet new musical demands, and the bows used with them changed as well. Surviving 16th-century violins by Andrea Amati are held and displayed in museum collections, including the Musical Instrument Museum's exhibit on the violin makers of Cremona.
