Lorenzo Ventapane

History

Lorenzo Ventapane (1780-1843) was born in 1780 and died in 1843 in Naples, Italy. He was the nephew of Vincenzo Ventapane. Lorenzo Ventapane was established in Calata Borgo di Loreto and, from 1800, worked at 35 Strada Donnaregina, Naples.

Craft

• Style: Instruments produced by Lorenzo Ventapane are described as being in the late Gagliano style, often imitating the Stradivari model, and exhibiting characteristics of the Neapolitan school.
• Design: He developed a beautiful broad model, following the examples of Stradivari and Gagliano.
• Workmanship: His work is characterized by good designs but unrefined workmanship, with scrolls that are very quickly cut and usually quite crude. The corners are broad but not cleanly formed.
• Arching: The arching is of medium height, full to the edges.
• Purfling: Beech purfling is set in broad flat edges.
• Soundholes: Soundholes are quite widely set, but of good Stradivari form with small finial circles and broad but crudely fluted lower wings. Karel Jalovec notes them as delicately cut and placed in a slanting position.
• Varnish: The varnish is described as fairly hard, glossy golden or yellow-brown by John Dilworth. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes it as orange-yellow, often darkened. Karel Jalovec describes it as mostly dark yellow, sometimes orange, transparent, with a touch of green.
• Materials: Materials are generally of basic quality, though the wood is often described as fine or beautiful.
• Instruments: His cellos are particularly prized as well-proportioned and effective instruments. Double basses and various plucked instruments are also recorded.
• Scrolls: Scrolls have distinctively large and protruding eyes.
• Tone: His instruments possess a powerful tone, which Henri Poidras suggests might be at the expense of quality due to an exaggerated body width. Karel Jalovec notes the tone as good and strong, though lacking smoothness.

Influence

• Mentorship: Lorenzo Ventapane is presumed to have been a pupil of Giovanni or Nicolo (II) Gagliano.
• Models: He developed his style following the examples of Stradivari and Gagliano.

Legacy

• Reputation: His cellos are considered first-rate and particularly prized.

Further Information

• Addresses: He worked at Calata Borgo di Loreto and from 1800 at 35 Strada Donnaregina, Naples.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Lorenzo Ventapane / Fabbricante di strumenti armonici / Strada Donnaregina 35 / Napoli 18..", "Lorenzo Ventapane / Strada Donnaregina No. 35 Napoli 1809", and "Lorenzo Ventapane / Fabbricante di Strumenti da Corde / Abita Calata Borgo di Loreto No 23".

Summary

Lorenzo Ventapane (1780-1843) was a Neapolitan luthier, nephew of Vincenzo Ventapane, known for crafting instruments in the late Gagliano style, often inspired by Stradivari. While his designs were considered good, his workmanship was often unrefined. His cellos are particularly prized for their powerful tone and well-proportioned design. He is presumed to have been a pupil of Giovanni or Nicolo (II) Gagliano.