Born in Mantua in 1808, Gaetano Dionelli was able to devote himself to violin making assiduously only during the second half of his life. In fact, while his interest in this field must have dated back to the 1830s (when he was still employed in other crafts), only starting from the 1850s can we identify with certainty his first works. Assuming that Dionelli did not learn his new profession entirely self-taught, his biographical events and his style can lead us to suppose some influence from Sante Coppi, who in those years was the Mantuan luthier who enjoyed the best economic situation.
Dionelli's instruments therefore show some reminiscence of the work of his predecessor, especially those made at the beginning of Coppi's career: the model is rather narrow and the corners moderately long. The head has a deep throat, but the volute is very personal: rounded and wide, it ends in a very large central eye that gives a very recognizable look to the scroll seen from the front as well. His reddish-brown varnish of good consistency is also typical of nineteenth-century Mantua.
