Books › The Hawley Collection of violins, 1904 › scan 162
Scan 162
The Hawley Collection of violins, 1904
20 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 88. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE HAWLEY COLLECTION OF VIOLINS
3twelve years ago, the violins of Alessandro were counted the best of the Gagliano family, due largely, no doubt, to his supposed connection with Stradivari. Since then the world has become better acquainted with the works of the Gagliano family, and we believe the violins of his sons, Gennaro and Nicola, and grandson Ferdinando, are now deemed superior in point of solidity of construction and tone by violin experts of Europe. Alessandro died about 1730.
5Nicola Gagliano
7Nicola Gagliano, the elder son of Alessandro, worked in Naples from 1710 until about 1750. His violins are highly appreciated for their sterling tonal qualities. He worked after both a large and small model of the Stradivarian type. The former are noble examples of the liutaro's art, having a broad, large model and a very brilliant rich tone. The latter are fine in quality but not so powerful in tone. He employed splendid wood, though like all Neapolitan makers, back and sides are of rather toughish maple, of which he left plenty in his instruments. His varnish is a grayish yellow color. His scrolls are small and contracted in appearance like those of all the Gagliano makers. Nicola died about 1740. Fritz Kriesler executes his superb tones de force upon a fine specimen of Nicola's make.
9Gennaro Gagliano
11The second son of Alessandro was born about the close of the seventeenth century and worked until the middle of the eighteenth. He was an artistic workman, and his instruments are highly prized. His model is rounder than that of his father and brother. His wood and varnish are very similar to his brother's. His violins have a splendid tone. Although he made many violins, to-day they are very rare. He finished his work with care, and employed a soft lustrous varnish of a rich golden color.
13Ferdinando Gagliano
15Ferdinando, the eldest son of Nicola, was born in 1706, and died in 1785. He ranks, in our opinion, as one of the foremost makers of his family. Opinions may differ on such points, but there is no question about Ferdinando's best work being fully equal in point of model and effectiveness to that of either his father or grandfather. His was a broad and commanding style, maintained faithfully on Stradivarian lines. He selected fine material, his backs being of the same general type as his father's, and his varnish usually the same, though sometimes he used a beautiful shade of red instead of the orange color. Sound hole, inlaying, corners, and edges are well finished. His scroll is well executed, but is small and chunky. His outline is bold and rugged-looking. The tone he evolved is broad and brilliant, and much sought by modern players.
17Giuseppe and Antonio Gagliano
19Giuseppe and Antonio were brothers of Ferdinando, and worked in partnership during the middle part of the eighteenth century, signing their joined names to many of their instruments. They also made violins separately. The work of Giuseppe is much like his brother Ferdinando's, but his model is smaller and the arching rounder. He used excellent material, and his backs and sides are very handsome. His varnish is of an orange color. The tone of his violins is of fine quality and of great volume. An-
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.