Giovanni Battista Ceruti (1756–1817) was an Italian violin maker, and is considered a direct link to the grand tradition of the Cremonese master violin makers of the 18th century.
[1] Born a generation after Antonio Stradivari and the Guarneri, with no direct link to the great tradition, violin making made an unlikely comeback in Cremona in the person of Lorenzo Storioni and his two followers, Giovanni Rota and Giovanni Battista Ceruti.
It is said that he was probably self-taught, and his change of profession may have come through his colleagues in the textile trade, Bergonzi brothers, Nicola and Carlo II nephews of Michel Angelo Bergonzi, who did make a few violins.
Philip Kass states that Ceruti was sponsored by a nobleman, to the displeasure of the famous dealer and collector Count Cozio, who was promoting other makers, including Giovanni Battista Guadagnini and Giacomo Rivolta of Milan.
Italy endured many wars, and finding materials for makers, at times was very difficult.