Giovanni Battista Manso

Giovanni Battista Manso, Marchese de Villa, (1570-1645) was an Italian scholar, and patron of the arts and artists.

He was born in Naples. The Spanish rulers of Naples allowed him to establish the scholarly institute called collegio dei nobili. He befriended and helped Torquato Tasso, of whom he was to write a biography, published in Rome in 1634. He was also a patron of patron to Giovanni Battista Marino. He met with a young John Milton during his trip to Italy.