Merchants of Venice: Venetian lutherie
2024-11-15T09:46:00
In the 16th century, the Republic of Venice was a hotbed of innovation for stringed instrument makers – and the members of the Linarol family were at the heart of the trade. Stefano Pio explores the archives to reveal their fascinating and often colourful lives and careers
Undeniably, the city of Venice played a vital role in the history of bowed stringed instruments. It was one of the first cities where we can find makers specialising in one specific family of instruments; in smaller urban centres, where production was limited and the number of artisans was small, they might accept any commission that helped them make ends meet…