Maker Background
Born in Bressanone in 1659, Matteo Goffriller likely trained under Matthias Albani before moving to Venice in 1685, where he apprenticed with Mathias Kaiser and later married his master's daughter.
Golden Period (1690–1715)
After Mathias Kaiser's death, Matteo Goffriller took over his workshop, thus starting the most productive period of his carrer. Goffriller’s workshop became a leading center of violin and cello making in Venice. His instruments blended influences from Amati and Stradivari, featuring strong outlines, fuller archings, and uniquely styled scrolls. He was known for his geometric precision, creating instruments in different sizes to meet musicians’ tonal needs. His transparent red varnish later became a hallmark of Venetian violin making.
Notably, Antonio Vivaldi, the great composer from Venice, was also working as a violin teacher at the time and may have sourced instruments from Goffriller for his students.
After 1710
Goffriller continued making instruments but often left them unlabeled, possibly to avoid Venetian guild taxes and many of his larger cellos were later modified to fit musicians' changing preferences, complicating their attribution today.
However, Goffriller’s craftsmanship and innovations set a high standard for Venetian violin makers and his instruments remain highly prized by musicians and collectors, continuing to showcase the artistry of the Venetian school.
In addition, his workshop trained important Venetian luthiers, including Domenico Montagnana, Santo Serafin, and Carlo Tononi.
