Giovanni Battista Manso
Giovanni Battista Manso (1570-1645) 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 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.[1] 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.
References
- ^ Dizionario biografico universale, Volume 3, by Felice Scifoni, David Passigli, publisher, Florence (1844); page 893.