Books › A dictionary of violin makers › scan 42
Scan 42
A dictionary of violin makers
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 32. See the scan on archive.org.
1pattern, the only one known, is dated rue des Prouvaires, 1748. Label: "Gaffino, campagno di Castagneri, rue des Prouvaires, Parigi, anno 1755." Perhaps he was more of a dealer than a maker, judging by the advertisement on another label: "At the sign of the 'Musette de Colin,' Joseph Gaffino, maître et marchand luthier à Paris, rue des Prouvaires, fait, vend, achète, et loue toutes sortes d'instruments de musique, savoir: violons, basses d'orchestre, violoncellos, alto-viola, violes d'amour et toutes sortes de sa façon," &c.
3Gagliano (Galiano), Alessandro, b. about 1640, at Naples; d. there about 1730. At first studied music, in leisure moments making a few mandolines and lutes. Having killed his adversary in a duel, he was obliged to leave Naples, and went to Cremona, and there entered Ant. Stradivari's workshop. He remained about thirty years and showed great ability. It is possible that many of Stradivari's instruments were prepared by him. He was able to return to Naples in 1695, and started a business there; he soon became well known. He made a number of instruments, generally on a large pattern, which, in the arching, in the thicknesses, and in the carefully finished work, recall his master. He used a good strong varnish, greyish-yellow colour, and good wood, that of the bellies being of wide and even grain and very resonant; the scroll is rather roughly cut, the sound-holes are wider and more perpendicular than those of Stradivari, the tone is powerful. He made some remarkably beautiful violoncellos; a violoncello and a bass are known which might almost be mistaken for the work of Stradivari. Labels: "Alexandri Gagliano, Alumnus Stradivarius, fecit Neapoli, anno 1725," and "Alexander Gaglianus, fecit Neap., 17—." He had two sons, both makers—Nicola and Gennaro.
5Gagliano, Antonio, third son of Nicola, grandson of Alessandro. See "Giuseppe Gagliano."
7Gagliano, Antonio, son of Giovanni, grandson of Nicola. See "Raffaele Gagliano."
9Gagliano, Ferdinando, eldest son of Nicola, grandson of Alessandro, b. 1706, in Naples; d. about 1781. His work shows decadence, although it is an imitation of that of his father; it is not so arched, the thicknesses are not accurate, the work is not so carefully finished; the varnish is richer in colour than that used by other members of the family. As he also worked for the trade at low prices, some of his instruments are not of much value. Violins and basses of his are known dated up to the year of his death, and a very good alto dated 1753. Label: "Ferdinandus Gagliano filius Nicolai, fecit Neap., 17—," and "Ferdinando Gagliani, me fecit Neapoli, anno 1730."
11Gagliano, Gennaro, second son of Alessandro, brother of Nicola, b. about 1680, at Naples; d. 1750. He was the best maker of this family. He made few instruments, but put excellent work into them; the pattern is good, slightly arched. He imitated his father in general outline and in thicknesses, was therefore really following the Stradivari pattern, but the sound-holes are shorter and wider. The wood was carefully selected, and the yellow varnish is beautiful, the quality of tone very fine; his successors never succeeded in producing varnish equally beautiful, although a recipe in Gennaro's own handwriting remained in the family; he either purposely kept secret some essential ingredient, or forgot to make it known. A magnificent violoncello, of perfect workmanship, dated Antonio Stradivari, 1732, is generally supposed to be Gennaro's work; the back and belly are more arched, the sides lower, the warm red-brown varnish darker and thicker than in Stradivari's instruments. It was bought from Gennaro himself, about 1740, by an Italian, who sold it in 1765 to M. Champsor, a well known violoncellist in Marseilles; on his death, in 1826, it passed from an amateur into the keeping of M. Bonnet, so that its tradition remains unbroken. If it could be proved that Gennaro made it, it would place him at once in the front rank of the great Italian makers. He seldom used labels for his instruments, and very often omitted to date them, so that it is not known exactly how many years he worked; but in 1730 his work was already excellent, and it steadily improved. Labels: "Gennaro Gagliano fecit Neapoli, 17—", and "Januarius Gagliano filius Alexandri, fecit Neap., 1732"; another similar one is dated 1741. He sometimes pencilled his name on the inside of the belly.
13Gagliano, Giovanni, fourth son of Nicola, nephew of the great Gennaro, lived also in Naples; b. date not known; d. 1806. He did not make
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.