Dictionary of Makers

Antonio and Girolamo Amati were both sons ofAndrea. They jointly inherited their father's workshop in the late 1570s, but in 1588 they parted company, apparently not on good terms. Antonio continued to make instru- ments independently, and these bear his own label, but it was Girolamo who took charge of the family busi- ness. Most of the instruments made between 1588 and Girolamo's death from the plague in 1630 can therefore be assumed to be the work of Girolamo, although their labels refer to both of the brothers.

 

The Amati brothers strengthened the model their father had established and attained a remarkable level of per- fection of craftsmanship that has, arguably, never been surpassed. From around 1620 the presence in the work- shop of Girolamo's son Nicolo is evident, as can be seen in the instruments on pp. 26-29. By the late 1620s Nicolo was responsible for the lion's share of the work, so in this period we occasionally find instruments that are entirely the work ofNicolo, but which bear the original label ofthe brothers.