Francesco Gobetti

An important Venetian maker, born in Udine in 1675. He is recorded as a shoemaker in Venice in about 1690, living near Matteo Gofriller, who was certainly a strong influence and probably his teacher. His own work is labelled after 1705, and has close similarities with that of Carlo Tononi, who came to Venice from Bologna in 1717. Gobetti’s work is very varied in style, embracing Stainer, Amati and Stradivari models. The soundholes are often set a little close together, and the scroll is neatly and geometrically cut. He was amongst the earliest makers outside Cremona to absorb Stradivari’s influence, and was able to work in an appropriately clean and delicate manner. His varnish too is very variable, from a clear golden yellow to a more typical Venetian dark red-brown recipe. His last known works are dated from 1720, and he died in 1723.