Born in Maclodio in the period 1578/80 (the declaration of age on policies of valuation is rarely accurate) , he moved to Brescia young ( c. 1597). Di Matteo De Benti Piccolellis spoken of as old maker of lutes , front Gasparo da Salò , while in reality it is a contemporary of Maggini . His profession as a luthier is to be found in the policy of 1637 although there is a policy in 1634 which does not represent the profession but claims to have a workshop for its use. The shop is located in the district of S. Antonio ( today Via Cairoli ) in the immediate vicinity of what was once the Micheli , as it can be ascertained from the coherences of the house declared by Benti ( Buffalo Joseph had married Camilla , daughter of John Pellegrino ) . The wife of Benti was buried 16 August 1661 , but Matthew has so far been no trace of death. Di Matteo Benti remembers a lute rich carvings at the Museum of the Paris Conservatoire , instrument ever found. Maybe it's cetera existing at the Museum , but more realistically be attributed to Girolamo Virchi . Although its activity is well documented for a period of almost thirty years , few tools are attributed to him. As he himself says , he was also the manufacturer of harps , one plucked instrument , which was widespread in the '500 and '600 in Brescia , but he saw an irremediable decline and probable destruction of the instruments with the following centuries. The large number of harps built in Brescia there remain very few , only those of the most exquisite workmanship . One of his violin was appreciated by Tartini for the excellent sound.
March 23, 1637 - Brescia
" Fourth Joannis
Poliza models Beni et credits debts of me Mattheo filio quondam Thu: James Benti habitatori Brixia already ' 40 years in the district of Santo Antonio with Essercitio to Cittere and others Instrumenti
I Mattheo sudetto 57 years
My wife Chiara Goddess 46
Goods in Brescia
A house of three rooms with over six Mediterranee et Cortesella et pit in which there has recourse other people to go to aqua what is for my own use in the district of Santo Antonio et coherentie morning to evening road , half a day Joseffo of buffaloes , to ' Tonight we heirs of Horadi of Ferrazzi val
Goods over the Territory of Camignone
A piece of land in the district Aradora et vidata della Rovere called the Oak of Piò three panels 18 to ' evening as well as the earth coherentie ' morning ser Agostino and grandchildren of Coradelli , to ' et noon, evening street, ' Mount Augustine et brothers Prestini val to Piò
Item another piece of land on the territory of Valenzano of Piò doi tables 19 Aradora et vidata in the district of Montesella to ' morning of the earth as well coherentie to' Piero Valotto said Giavarino morning , noon, in the street, ' upstream Gio Antonio Pelora said Olivini to ' evening Messer Antonio and Francesco brothers Spini what val to Piò
credits
Scodo level ' five per cent by Francesco di Bertoli in Brescia over the capital of shields of 11 how much do Planetta L. 20
debts
I pay taxes to the 'seven and a half percent to' Francis Spiders from Montesello cash over the capital of three hundred thirty-three pounds Planetta for the rest of any such piece of land on the territory of Valenzano L. 333
Item pay level ' five per cent to Kotor Francis Spiders above the capital of two hundred eighty eight pounds Planetta for the rest of any such piece of land L. 288
Pretentioni
I demand dalli heirs of the late Lorenzo Rizzaio in Brescia shields sedeci for virtue de legatto of the late R.do s. Antonio Pella above which hangs lite
23 Martij 1637 . "
Bente (Benti),Matteo
