Giovanni Rota (1767-before 1829) apprenticed under the influential Italian luthier Lorenzo Storioni 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.

It is speculated that because Giovanni worked under other luthiers, much of his work was never attributed under to him. This adds to the rarity of violins with his name on them, as there are few that he crafted independently.

It was in Mantua where Giovanni worked with the luthier Tommaso Balestrieri, and moved there after eagerly finishing his apprenticeship under Lorenzo Stiorini.

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