Object Details

maker

Gagliano, Gennaro

Description (Brief)

This viola was made by Gennero Gagliano in Naples, Italy, in 1762. It is a baroque viola made of a two-piece table of spruce, two-piece back of maple with irregular mild horizontal figure, ribs of similar maple, similar maple neck, pegbox and scroll, and semi-transparent orange-brown varnish. There is an original printed label inside the instrument:

Januarius Gaglianus
Fecit Neap. 1762

[“62” handwritten]

An additional printed label with a religious inscription is on the top block:

In conceptione tua virgo Maria Immaculata fuisti Ora pro nobix Patrem, cujus Filiam Jesum de Sp. s.peperisti

["In thy conception, Virgin Mary, didst thou remain immaculate Pray for us to the Father, whose son Jesus thou hast born from the Holy Ghost"]

Gennaro Gagliano (1690-1771) produced a limited number of small violas similar to this example. Recent investigation has shown that the demand for these instruments centered around the requirement that violinists be able to play with facility upon the viola. An instrument of small compass would simplify the necessary adjustments in performance technique in changing from a violin. This viola is in an outstanding state of preservation. The bass-bar, willow blocks and linings, and ebony saddle are original. The untouched original neck, pegbox and scroll are possibly the collaborative work of Gennaro and his nephew, Ferdinand Gagliano

Highly regarded as a maker, Gennaro (Januarius) is often regarded as the greatest craftsman of the Gagliano family. The religious inscription cited above was used in a variety of forms by members of the Gagliano family in instruments they probably completed with special pride. Such labels were frequently placed on the top block beneath or between nails holding the neck in place. Many such labels with religious dedications have likely been lost during the conversions of instruments from original (baroque) to modern proportions.

Thomas Eberle, who worked in Naples, ca. 1753-1792, was perhaps a student of Nicolo Gagliano and is also known to have used a religious dedicatory label: Gesu e Maria, also affixed to the top-block.

Location

Currently not on view

Date made

1762

ID Number

1979.0172.02

accession number

1979.0172

catalog number

1979.0172.02

Object Name

viola

Physical Description

spruce (overall material)

maple (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 26 15/16 in x 9 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in; 68.42125 cm x 24.765 cm x 12.065 cm

place made

Italy: Campania, Naples

See more items in

Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments

Music & Musical Instruments

Data Source

National Museum of American History

Metadata Usage

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a4-30cf-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_605487