Ferdinando Gagliano

The Neapolitan school of violinmaking began with Alessandro Gagliano, who worked in the city from roughly 1700. His sons Nicolò and Gennaro as well Nicolò’s four sons continued the tradition, among them Ferdinando, who, on account of the stylistic details of his work, is assumed to have apprenticed to his uncle Gennaro. Ferdinando Gagliano used different kinds of wood and frequently chose simple, unflamed maple for backs and broad-grained bellies. The varnish was usually light and translucent.