Santos Hernandez (1874-1943) is widely considered the greatest Spanish luthier of the first half of the 20th century, Santos Hernandez was born in Madrid in 1873. He apprenticed first with Valentin Viudes II, then went to work for José Ortega in Granada, but soon returned to Madrid to work for the Hijo de Francisco Gonzalez. In 1893, he was called up for military service, and fought in Spanish-American war. Upon leaving the army, he found work in the shop of Manuel Ramirez. It is accepted that it was Santos who made the classical guitar that Manuel gave Andres Segovia in 1912. When Manuel died in 1916, Santos continued to work for his widow until at least 1918 when he opened his own shop on the Plaza Nicolas Salmeron No 8, moving in 1921 to Aduana 27. From 1916 to his death in 1943, Santos is thought to have made perhaps 300 guitars. His classical guitars are highly prized and he seems to have gone all out of this one, fitting it with a tornavoz, and an exceptionally fine rosette. The dots on the neck are probably a latter addition. The guitar has been expertly restored, and is an exceptionally fine example of his work.