Giovanni Battista Manso

Giovanni Battista Manso (1570- 28 December 1645) was an Italian aristocrat, scholar, and patron of the arts and artists.

Biography

He was born in Naples. He was Marquis of Villa, and lord of Pianco and Bissacio. His initial career was in the military, fighting under the banner of the Duke of Savoy, as well as the Spaniards. The Spanish rulers of Naples allowed him to establish the scholarly institute called Collegio dei Nobili. He was a member of the Accademia degli Oziosi in Naples. He befriended and helped Torquato Tasso, of whom he was to write a biography, published in Rome in 1634. He was also a patron to Giovanni Battista Marino and close friend of the poet Antonio Bruni. He met with a young John Milton during his trip to Italy.

Manso was also a writer, publishing a book of poems and attempting to complete an encyclopedia.

Works

• I paradossi overo dell'Amore dialogi, 1608, Milan.
• Erocallia overo dell'Amore e della Bellezza, 1618, Venice.
• Poesie nomiche divise in Rime amorose, sacre e morali, 1634, Venice.
• Vita di Torquato Tasso published by Evangelista Deuchino, 1621.

External links

• Calitti, Floriana (2007). "MANSO, Giovan Battista". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Volume 69: Mangiabotti–Marconi (in Italian). Rome: Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana. ISBN 978-8-81200032-6.