Crossword Genius

Italian maestro botched a painting without model (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

paganini

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'italian maestro' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'botched a painting without model' is the wordplay.
'botched' indicates an anagram.
'without' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'model' becomes 't' (Ford Model T car).
'a'+'painting'='apainting'
'apainting' with 't' removed is 'apaining'.
'apaining' with letters rearranged gives 'PAGANINI'.

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(Other definitions for paganini that I've seen before include "was often on the fiddle" , "who was always on the fiddle" , "Famous violin virtuoso" , "Niccolo --, Italian violinist" , "One on the fiddle" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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