Giovanni Paolo Maggini

Who was Giovanni Paolo Maggini?

Giovanni Paolo Maggini, was a string maker born in Botticino, Italy. Maggini was a pupil of the most important violin maker of the Brescian school, Gasparo da Salò.

In spite of the wrong 19th-century Italian storigraphy, Maggini's early instruments are now considered very desirable because, despite their apparent naive craftsmanship, they are wonderful instruments. They first tended to be modified copies of his teacher's instruments. But once established on his own around the year 1606, Maggini developed his skills and experimented with his designs until he achieved a level of expertise that is still highly regarded. His violas, like these of his master, are regarded as the best in the world for the rich deep sound and power of tone.

The only known pupil of Maggini is Valentino Siani, who worked with him c. 1610-1620, before he moved to Florence and started his own business.

Maggini succumbed to the bubonic plague of 1630-31 that also took another important early luthier, Girolamo Amati.