Born in Bergamo in 1868, Luigi Montanari moved with his family to Milan when he was still a child. He trained as a luthier with the Antoniazzis and worked for Leandro Bisiach from 1896 to 1900, when he opened his own business. He also played an important role in the training of Giuseppe Ornati, who was his pupil before being hired himself in the Bisiach atelier.
His work displays a good technical and stylistic level, and his instruments are inspired to Stradivari, Guarneri and Guadagnini models. The purfling often has an elongated shape approaching the joint at the tips; on the back, the button has characteristic lateral notches. Unfortunately, his death at just forty years of age didn't allow him to gain the recognition he deserved and to have a conspicuous production.
