The Lisbon Luthier: Joaquim José Galrão and the Golden Age of Portuguese Stringed Instruments Joaquim José Galrão, a name perhaps unfamiliar to many outside the circles of dedicated luthiers and connoisseurs of fine stringed instruments, represents a pinnacle of craftsmanship in 18th-century Portugal. Born in Portugal (the exact year remains elusive), Galrão flourished during a period when Lisbon was a vibrant hub of artistic and commercial exchange, a gateway between Europe and its colonies. While biographical details are scarce – the life of the artisan often overshadowed by the fame of th…