Giovanni Battista Gabrielli 1755

Giovanni Battista Gabrielli (1716 – 1771) was a pre-eminent maker of the Florentine school. He may have received some instruction from Bartolomeo Cristofori, who had worked for Nicolò Amati before arriving in Florence in 1709, where he obtained a royal appointment. He branded his work on the back button with 'G. B. G'.  This fine viola is made in 1755 and has a length of 39.5 cm.