Giuseppe Guadagnini

History

Giuseppe Guadagnini (1753-1805), also known as ‘il Soldato’, was born in Milan in 1753 and died in Pavia in 1805, according to John Dilworth in The Brompton’s Book of Violin & Bow Makers. He was the second son of Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (Dilworth, Cécile Stainer in A Dictionary of Violin Makers, George Hart in The Violin, and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart).

Giuseppe was a pupil and assistant to his father, working alongside his brothers Gaetano, Carlo, and Filippo (Dilworth). Stainer notes he was a pupil of his father in Turin around 1751, though this date conflicts with his widely accepted birth year of 1753. He left the family business in Turin some time before 1782 (Dilworth) and subsequently worked independently. He worked in Pavia around 1780-1781, then in Como and Milan, before returning to Pavia (Dilworth). Stainer states he worked at Milan, Como, and Parma (about 1793). Hart confirms he ultimately went to Lombardy and settled in Pavia, where he made a great number of instruments. Lütgendorff reports that he was in Parma in 1760, lived in Como in the Contrada di Porta in 1763, and was in Pavia in 1790; however, these early dates are often considered inconsistent with his accepted birth year and known period of independent work. Lütgendorff also notes that Giuseppe called himself a Cremonese, though it is unknown whether he was born or studied there. He eventually fell into poverty (Lütgendorff).

Craft

• Innovation: Giuseppe Guadagnini was a more active violin maker than his brothers (Dilworth). He built a quantity of violins, altos, and violoncellos (Stainer). He built according to the Stradivari and Guarneri patterns (Lütgendorff).
• Materials: The wood he used was often hard and plain (Hart).
• Methods: His work was varied (Hart). He often used his father's label, especially for instruments made when they were living together (Stainer, Hart). Besides his own labels, the letters "S. J. F. SS. S. GG. F. P." are also found next to the soundpost on some of his instruments (Lütgendorff).

Influence

• Training and Mentorship: Giuseppe Guadagnini was the pupil and assistant of his father, Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (Dilworth, Stainer), and worked alongside his brothers Gaetano, Carlo, and Filippo (Dilworth). He worked with his father for some time in Turin (Hart).
• Schools/Tradition: He built instruments following the Stradivari pattern (Stainer, Hart, Lütgendorff), and in some instances, the sound-holes partake of the character of Giuseppe Guarneri (Hart).

Legacy

• Museum Collections: A good violin by Giuseppe Guadagnini is owned by the Cologne Conservatory of Music, according to Lütgendorff.

Further Information

• Technical Characteristics: His style is described as a little rustic but imbued with great personality, reflecting some of his father’s work (Dilworth). He produced various models, generally featuring prominent outward-pointing upper corners. His scrolls are noted as a little Storioni-like, with an extended last turn and small chamfers. The varnish on his instruments ranges from orange-brown to pale golden-amber (Dilworth), though Hart describes it as inferior to his predecessors. Lütgendorff notes a flat, broad model and good workmanship, while Stainer states his work was much inferior to that of his father. He was also noted for liking double purfling (Lütgendorff). His labels include: "Joseph Guadagnini Cremonensis / fecit Papiae anno 1790", "Giuseppe Guadagnini / filio di Giov.Battista", "Giuseppe Guadagnini fil. / Johannes Battista Parmae 1768", and "Giuseppe Guadagnino Figlio di Giovanni / Battista fece in Como nella Contrada di / Porta Sala 178." (Rosengard, cited by Dilworth).
• Historical Uncertainties: Sources present conflicting information regarding his success with tone; Lütgendorff states he was "less successful with the tone" [weniger gelingt ihm der Ton], while Stainer notes "his instruments generally have a good tone." There are also some discrepancies in dates for his work in Parma; Lütgendorff places him in Parma in 1760, while Stainer mentions Parma around 1793. Despite calling himself a Cremonese, it remains unknown whether he was born there or studied there (Lütgendorff).

Summary

Giuseppe Guadagnini, second son of the renowned Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, was an active Italian violin maker born in Milan in 1753 and deceased in Pavia in 1805. He served as a pupil and assistant to his father in Turin, subsequently working independently in several Italian cities including Pavia, Como, Milan, and Parma. His instruments often followed the Stradivari pattern, sometimes incorporating characteristics of Giuseppe Guarneri, and are known for a rustic style imbued with personality. While some sources describe his workmanship as good and his instruments as having generally good tone, others note that his work was inferior to his father's and his varnish quality was lower. He utilized various models, featuring distinctive upper corners and Storioni-like scrolls. Giuseppe Guadagnini sometimes used his father's labels and is also associated with specific identifying letters found near the soundpost. A violin by him is held by the Cologne Conservatory of Music.