Gagliano is the name of a famous family of Italian

luthier A luthier ( ; ) is a craftsperson who builds or repairs string instruments. Etymology The word ' is originally French and comes from ''luth'', the French word for "lute". The term was originally used for makers of lutes, but it came to be ...

s from

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, dating back to the early 18th century. The Gagliano dynasty – particularly Alessandro, Nicolò I and Gennaro – are considered the high point of Neapolitan violin making. There are as many as eighteen ''Gagliano'' violin makers known worldwide today. Below is a family tree of a few of its most recognizable luthiers. Gagliano family

Alessandro Gagliano

( 1700 – 1735) Naples, Italy. As a youth, Alessandro worked in the shops of famed

Nicolo Amati Nicola Amati, Nicolò Amati or Nicolao Amati (, ; 3 September 1596 – 12 April 1684) was an Italian master luthier from Cremona, Italy. Amati is one of the most well-known luthiers from the Casa Amati (House of Amati). He was the teacher of il ...

and

Antonio Stradivari Antonio Stradivari (, also , ; – 18 December 1737) was an Italian luthier and a craftsman of string instruments such as violins, cellos, guitars, violas and harps. The Latinisation of names, Latinized form of his surname, ''Stradivarius'', a ...

. After returning to Naples from

Cremona Cremona ( , , ; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in northern Italy, situated in Lombardy, on the left bank of the Po (river), Po river in the middle of the Po Valley. It is the capital of the province of Cremona and the seat of the local city a ...

, he became the founder of the Neapolitan school. Authentic examples of his instruments in good condition are scarce. A few violas, cellos, one double bass, and several violins have survived. *Typical label:

Alexandri
r Alessandro R, or r, is the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ar'' (pronounced ), plural ''ars''. The letter ...
Gagliano
Alumnus Antonio Stradivarius
fecit Anno 1722

Nicolò Gagliano I

(active 1730 – 1780) Naples, Italy.

Nicolò Gagliano Nicolò Gagliano (active. c. 1730s – 1787 in Naples), although there is some discussion about the exact dates) (also known as ''Nicolo'', ''Nicola'' or ''Nicolaus'' Gagliano - also sometimes known as ''Nicolò I'', to differentiate him from Nic ...

(also known as ''Nicolo'', ''Nicola'' or the Latinised ''Nicolaus'') was the eldest son of Alessandro and is generally considered the most famous luthier of the Gagliano family (he is known as ''Nicolò I'' to differentiate him from his grandson ''Nicolò II''). He made many admirable instruments in his long life. His instruments have often been copied or imitated, and were occasionally even mistaken for those of

. *Typical labels:

Nicolaii Gagliano fecit
in Napoli 1711
or
Nicolaus Gagliano filius
Alexandri fecit Neap. 1752

Gennaro Gagliano

(active 1740 – 1780) Naples, Italy. The second son of Alessandro, Gennaro (also known by his Latinised name ''Januarius'') created some well-made instruments and had a prominent position in the family.

Ferdinando Gagliano

(born 1724, active 1770 – 1795) Naples, Italy. Ferdinando was the eldest son of

Nicolò Nicolò () is an Italian male given name. Another variation is Niccolò, most common in Tuscany Tuscany ( ; ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of 3,660,834 inhabitants as of 2025. The cap ...

I, although probably taught by his uncle Gennaro. He made some magnificent as well as undistinguished instruments. However, he had a prodigious output of instruments. Occasionally, instruments with his label were actually made by his father or his brother. Labels: Ferdinandus Gagliano Filius / Nicolai, Fecit Neap. 17.. Ferdinando Gagliano, me fecit / Neapoli, anno 17..

References

*
" Ferdinand Gagliano Violin and Viola"
by John Dilworth on the Amati website.

Alessandro Gagliano

Nicolò Gagliano I

Gennaro Gagliano

Ferdinando Gagliano

References

Further reading