Giovanni Rota (1767-before 1829) apprenticed under the influential Italian luthier Lorenzo Stiorini from approximately 1787 to 1792, and spent his later years between Cremona and Mantua as a luthier. Not much about Giovanni's early life is known, save for his apprenticeship under this famous luthier. He was born in Cremona, Italy which at the time was under control of the Austrian Empire, and was in close contact with Giovanni Battista Ceruti, who was also apprenticed under Lorenzo Stiorini.