Born in 1838, Giuseppe Scarampella was the older brother of Stefano, who is today better known as a violin maker. However Giuseppe had a considerably more widespread reputation during his lifetime, as well as having had a primary role in Stefano's own training. Their family of origin had close relationships with musicians in Brescia, such as Antonio Bazzini, and Paolo, the father of the two luthiers, was a self-taught instrument maker. Thanks to Bazzini's connections, Giuseppe was sent to Paris to work in Nicolò Bianchi's atelier. Back in Italy, he moved to Florence where he began to work for the Castellani family, who were curators of the instrument collection of the Cherubini conservatory. Upon their death, Scarampella took over the task, establishing himself as one of the most esteemed Italian restorers of those days.
His new instruments are very rare and he showed a clear predilection for the del Gesù model, sometimes also used for violas. His workmanship is very neat, with a refined inlay of the purfling; the pattern of the head is personal and does not closely follow Guarneri's model; the button has a characteristic ogive shape.
