violin
Giuseppe (Joseph) Gagliano
built in Naples in ± 1780
A violin built by Joseph Gagliano in Naples, ca. 1780.
History of this instrument
The Musical Instrument Fund purchased this beautiful violin from a dealer in Germany following an extensive sound test. We do not know who the previous owners and/or players were.
The file contains a certificate by Peter Biddulph: “The violin is in excellent condition. It is a fine and characteristic example of the maker’s work. The violin was made by Joseph Gagliano in Naples circa 1780 and bears the label of Nicola Gagliano.”
Benjamin Scherer was the first violinist to play the violin after it entered our collection. Since 2013, the Neapolitan violin has been in the possession of Laura Oomens.
About the builder Giuseppe (Joseph) Gagliano
Giuseppe Gagliano’s hometown of Naples was a city full of contrasts in the 18th century. The city excelled in culture, was chaotic in its governance, and extreme in its social relations. With an estimated population of 300,000, Naples...
