Giovanni Battista Bodio

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Giovanni Battista Bodio was the son of one of the leading Venetian violin players of the time, also named Giobatta Bodio. He possibly studied under his uncle Giuseppe. He worked from his father's house in Campo San Polo before moving to 338 Fondamenta Condulmer after his father's death in 1826. Almost all of his work is dated prior to 1835, but changes in taxation at that time may have compelled him ...Read More to back-date subsequent productions. His models were very distinctive, if not ugly; several contralto-sized violas and cellos attributed to him exhibited particularly clumsy proportions. The arching was low but deeply hollowed at the edges, with prominent upper corners and wide upper bouts. He used long upright soundholes, sometimes tipped with ebony at the wings. The scrolls were quite concentric in the volute, though not highly finished. Cello and viola scrolls featured steeply sloping shoulders with double chamfer. He employed fine woods, some with imported 'bird's eye' maple, and applied good varnish of deep red-brown color, occasionally paler orange. Despite their eccentricities, his instruments were much sought-after as fine playing instruments. Read Less

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