Dictionary of Makers

Camillo Camilli was in all probability a pupil ofAntonio Zanotti, and there are striking similarities between the rather delicate circa 1725 Camilli violin onpp. 100-101 and the Zanotti onpp. 634-635. However, the maker who influ- enced him most was Pietro Guarneri, who had founded the Mantuan school when he arrived from Cremona in the early 1680s. There is little to separate the 1730 Camilli violin (pp. 102-103) from the 1704 Peter Guarneri (pp. 330- 331), other than the slightly smaller model, the somewhat northodox materials and perhaps a little extra swing in thefholes.

 

Camilli's output consists almost entirely of violins - his violas and cellos are extremely rare. His work is less mas- culine than that of his Mantuan contemporary Tomaso Balestrieri, but his interesting choice ofwood and beauti- ful golden-orange varnish makes his instruments among the most attractive of his day.