John Dilworth
TEDESCO (TODESCO), Leopoldo il Born 1625 Germany, d.c.1660 Rome Italy. Recorded on the Cremona census returns as an apprentice of Nicolò Amati 1652-1654. His name, meaning ‘the German’, suggests his origin. Subsequently established in Rome. One of the few foreign assistants of Amati to work independently. His work is not as impressive as his pedigree. Although basically of Amatisé form, it is weak and poorly finished with a thin yellow-brown varnish. Leopoldo il Tedesco / alievo di Amatis Cremonae / fecit Romae 1659
Cecie Stainer
b. 1625. Was a pupil of Nicola Amati in Cremona, 1653-54. Afterwards worked in Rome ; a violin dated from there in 1658 is made on the Amati pattern, and has good varnish, but the work is not highly finished.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff
Von 1652—1654 arbeitete er in Cremona bei Nic. Amati. Dann ging er nach Rom, wo er noch 1658 vorkommt. Er arbeitet nach dem Amati-Modell, ist aber nicht besonders sauber in der Ausführung, dagegen hat sein Lack lobenswerthe Eigenschaften. In Bruni’s Inventar (S. 5) wird eine Violine von ihm aus dem Besitze des Marquis Chabert de Cogolin († 1805) aufgeführt, deren Zettel Bruni sichtlich nicht lesen konnte; er las: »Leopoldo per rebere tedesco alievo di Nicolas Amatis Cremone 1750«. Abgesehen von der falschen Jahreszahl und Schreibfehlern ist das unverständliche »per rebere« — wenn es nicht »peregre (d. h. in der Fremde) geheissen —, vielleicht der eigentliche Familienname oder die Heimathsbezeichnung gewesen, da »il Tedesco« doch nur ein Beiname war.
Henri Poidras
After having worked in Amati’s workshops, this maker left and established himself at Rome where he made good instruments inspired by the master’s model. If his workmanship is not of the first order, his varnish is compensatingly fine.
Karel Jalovec
Rome. Born about 1625, no works after 1658. Pupil of Nicolo Amati, worked on Amati’s pattern but fell short of his master’s art. Price 20.000 Kc.
