Italy System-Genoa School (Genoa School)

Acity and seaport in northwest Italy, Genoa’s violin making industry developed late because it had always imported string instruments from its neighboring city Turin. It was not until after 1700 that Genoa gradually produced its own luthiers such as Jacobus Philippus Cordanus, Bernardo Calcagno, Angelo Molia, Giuseppe Cavaleri, but in terms of craftmanship they could not compete with the luthiers in Turin.

Between 1800 and 1900, the virtuosic violinist Paganini made signifcant contributions to the musical development in Genoa. Antonio Gibertini (1797-1866), a contemporary and close friend of Paganini, was a famous luthier known for his superior craftsmanship.

Giuseppe Rocca from Turin and Nicolo Bianchi (1796-1881) began to lead the way for the Genoa school of violin making. Between the years 1840 and 1915, Eugenio Praga and Enrico Rocca elevated the violin making culture of Genoa to a new level.

By the end of the 19th century, the Candi brothers, Cesare Candi and Oreste Candi (1865-1938), continued the luthier tradition into the 20th century. Paolo de Barbieri, the Candi brother’s pupil and nephew, together with Giuseppe Lecchi (1895-1967) and Lorenzo Bellafontana (1906-1979) established a new school for Italian violin making.