His father, Luigi Gianotti, joiner, introduced him to the art of working wood but it was with the sculptor master Ghidotti first and the woodcarvers master Pirovano and master Vismara latter that Alfredo Gianotti learned the art of drawing and wood carving.

When the father died (1938) the numerous family needed his job contribution and he had to abandon any wishful thinking; he began with the realisation of wood models for industrial companies and that will remain his job since sixties; just when he had free time, he amused in making wood items like caskets, candlesticks, frames, fruit-stands.

In 1941 he was recalled from the Army and in 1943 in Tobruk (Libia) during the Africa campaign he was taken prisoner and moved to USA, Missouri, in a concentration camp. There he won his life challenge: he bet other prisoners that he would be able to make a violin. The result is in the picture: a complete and regular instrument that was even played in a Christmas concert from USA broadcasting station and which can be considered his first known violin.

Come back to Italy, he married Tecla De Colle on 31st January 1948 and violin making remained a hobby for several years; it was only under the pressure of Master Becchini, bow-maker, that Alfredo Gianotti seriously began to study the violinmaking, the rules of construction, the secrets of varnishes, the importance of seasoning wood.

André Navarra with Alfredo Gianotti
picture taken in Gianotti's workshop

In 1956 November he sent some instruments to the Third National Competition of Contemporary Violin Making, in Rome, and with a quartet he gained a Silver Medal.
Since then the competitions followed frequently:

Pegli (1958 and 1960), Ascoli Piceno (1959), Cremona (1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1979,1982), Bagnacavallo (1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1978), Liegi (1972), Philadelphia (1976), Baveno (1987) always with appreciation and awards.

Definitely in 1966 he stopped his traditional job and he devoted completely to violinmaking that became the major aim of his life and also his sustenance.

Instruments began to be appreciated all over the world and they were sold not only in Italy but principally in Corea, USA, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, and Switzerland. Amusing was the fact he had no knowledge of music, no knowledge of playing strings and he was always obliged to engage musicians to try and tune his instruments.

After the death of his wife in May 1990, overcome by distress and sorrow, he lived 9 months more, then he died in Milano on 21 February 1991 without children.