Valentino De Zorzi (1837–1916) was a highly distinctive, self-taught Italian violinmaker whose bold, charismatic instruments fueled a major revival of the Tuscan school of lutherie. Before turning to woodwork, he lived a varied early life, fighting in Giuseppe Garibaldi's forces and working as a blacksmith and armorer in Bologna. He built his very first violin in Pistoia in 1880, but it was after relocating to Florence in 1885 that he truly established his legacy. Standing out in an era dominated by direct replicas, De Zorzi crafted violins, violas, and cellos characterized by deeply personal, original design choices—resulting in an artistic uniqueness. His influential Florentine legacy extended to the next generation of makers, most notably through his talented student Alfio Batelli (1903–1977). Batelli trained directly under De Zorzi in Florence before establishing his own prominent workshop and eventually emigrating to the United States, where he built a renowned career as a fine maker and repairer in Chicago and Los Angeles.