Giovanni Grancino
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Giovanni Grancino (1637-1709), son of Andrea Grancino, was one of the early Milanese luthiers, and may have worked with brother, Francesco.[1]
Grancino's workshops were all located on Contrada Larga, now Via Larga in Milan. His instruments all bear the characteristic il segno della corona (mark of the crown).[2]
Although the luthiers of Milan created instruments of varying quality, Grancino's violins, violas and cellos were considered superior. Grancino used a varnish which was a finely textured clear yellow to pale brown color.
Grancino's early instrument patterns and designs were influenced by Niccolò Amati, whose impressive works influenced many Italian luthiers of the period. However, Grancino's later efforts show the flatter arching and narrower influence of Stradivari. Grancino's cellos tend to be larger, yet with a clear sound indicative of the Italian luthiers.[3]
Grancino's was succeeded by members of the Testore family, with the eldest, Carlo Giuseppe Testore, fabricating a violin for Grancino, now housed in the National Music Museum on the campus of the University of South Dakota.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Bartruff, William (2006). The History of the Violin. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.
- ^ Kulik, Alexander (2001). Journey into the year 1710, a Grancino Cello reveals its secrets. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.
- ^ Cello Heaven (2006). Famous Early Italian Makers of Cellos. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.
- ^ University of South Dakota (2006). Bowed Stringed Instruments Made Before 1800 at the National Music Museum. Retrieved on November 1, 2006.
