A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Grancino, Paolo

GRANCINO, Paolo, a violin-maker of the second rank. Born at Milan, he learnt his art under Nicolo Amati at Cremona. His violins are dated from 1665–1690. His son Giovanni (1696–1715), who dates 'from the sign of the Crown' in the Contrada Larga of Milan, was a maker of higher merit. His violins, tenors, and violoncellos, are usually of a large flat pattern, and present a development of the Amati model analogous to that of Stradivari. His sons Giam-Battista and Francesco carried on his business (1715–1746) under the title of 'Fratelli Grancini.'

[ P. D. ]