Pietro Valentino Novello

History

Pietro Valentino Novello (1759-1831) was born in 1759 and died in 1831 in Venice, Italy. He was apprenticed to Giorgio Serafin in the workshop known as 'Alla Cremona' around 1773. Novello remained in the workshop after Giorgio Serafin's death in 1779, when the business was taken over by A. Bellosio. In 1793, Novello himself took over from Bellosio, married Bellosio's widow Margherita, and was appointed legal agent for the 'Alla Cremona' shop. He finally took full ownership of the workshop in 1799. Several craftsmen were employed there, including Marco Cerin until 1796, and Novello's step-son Giovanni Bellosio. Novello also assumed the contract as luthier to the Pietà Hospital from the Bellosio family. According to John Dilworth, it appears that in several documents Novello used the name 'Marco', which has led previous writers to assume the existence of both Marco and Marco Antonio Novello as two other luthiers, often assumed to be Pietro Valentino's brothers; however, this now seems very doubtful. Cecie Stainer, in A Dictionary of Violin Makers, states that Pietro Valentino Novello was the brother of Marco Antonio Novello, a claim that conflicts with Dilworth's research. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that it is incorrect to place Novello's active period into the 1830s, as has sometimes occurred.

Craft

• Workmanship: Novello's work is described as good, loosely following the style of Amati.
• Arching: His instruments feature a full, rounded arch with marked edge fluting.
• Finish & Materials: While not finely finished, his instruments utilize excellent materials and are covered with a varnish of deep red-brown colour.

Influence

• Apprenticeship: Pietro Valentino Novello was apprenticed to Giorgio Serafin around 1773.
• Teacher: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff identifies him as a pupil of Anselm Bellosio.
• School: He is considered one of the better violin makers during the gradual decline of the Venetian school.

Further Information

• Workshop: Novello worked in the workshop known as 'Alla Cremona' in Venice, Italy, eventually taking full ownership in 1799.
• Official Role: He held the contract as luthier to the Pietà Hospital.
• Label Inscription: An example of his label reads: "Petrus Valentinus Novellus / discipulus Bellosij / fecit Venetijs. 1792 [Pio]".