Nicola Amati

9.9

A violin maker from Cremona in the 1600s who taught famous makers like Stradivari

proper noun

: Nicola Amati

Many famous luthiers, including Stradivari, studied under Nicola Amati in Cremona.

Examples

The craftsmanship of Nicola Amati set the standard for violin making in the 17th century.
The renowned violin maker Nicola Amati was born in Cremona.
A violin attributed to Nicola Amati is considered a valuable collector's item.
Did you know that Nicola Amati influenced the design of modern violins?
A violin attributed to Nicola Amati is considered a valuable collector's item.
Many famous luthiers, including Stradivari, studied under Nicola Amati in Cremona.
The craftsmanship of Nicola Amati set the standard for violin making in the 17th century.

Surface Forms

Nicola Amati main

Morphology

Nicola + Amati

This is a proper name referring to a specific historical individual; proper names are referential rather than compositional, so knowing the parts does not give the biography. Even if a learner recognised 'Amati' as a luthier family name, they would not be able to derive that Nicola Amati was a 17th-century violin maker from Cremona who taught Guarneri and Stradivari.

Etymology

Nicola Amati was a famous violin maker in Cremona in the 1600s who made very fine violins and taught pupils like Stradivari and Guarneri. Because his instruments and teaching shaped later makers, his name is linked to 'high quality' violins and to instruments that are 'worth a lot of money'.