Paolo de Barbieri (1889-1962) was born in Genoa. Renowned violinist Renato de Barbieri (1929-1991) was his son. Paolo de Barbieri became Cesare Candi’s first pupil because he often went to his workshop. Barbieri began making instruments from 1918-1919. His wife was a distant relative of Candi’s wife; therefore, he was also a member of the Candi family.
He competed in many national and international competitions and won countless prizes. He won a gold medal in Barcelona and in South Florida’s international exposition in 1929, and in Pauda he won silver medals in 1931. He participated in an exposition in Cremona in 1937. Barbieri helped Candi repair and maintain Paganini’s violin from 1945-1947. When he entered two of his violins, a viola, and a string quartet of instruments, the quartet instruments won him a silver medal and a special prize (gold medal). The jury also said that his quartet was the greatest surviving string quartet made by an Italian luthier. In 1954 and 1955, he won two gold medals from the Royal Academy of Rome, two silver medals and a medal for bows in 1956. After receiving the confirmation of winning countless awards, Barbieri became a judge in local competitions in Liege in 1960.
His instruments possess the characteristics of typical Candi violins. He used an outer mold method, and the f-holes are slanted toward the center of the instrument. His techniques were precise and unique. Barbieri made a vast number of instruments, and in 1959 he had made around 360 instruments. His instruments can be divided into three periods. During the first period, particularly 1925-1930, his instruments were at their most innovative. At this time he mostly used Guarneri de Gesu’s “Il Cannon” as a model, and his luthier skills were already quite mature. His second period was his most productive. The third period began around 1950, when he used Stradivari molds, and his varnishes were usually an amber color. Barbieri also started making fewer instruments during this period so he could improve his luthier skills and his own style. From looking at all of his instruments, Barbieri usually made violins in the style of Guarneri’s “Il Cannon”, Stradivari-Amati, and Stradivari models.
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