«Fù nei dauni confini, Presso à l’aspra Lucania alto, et immenso…». La famiglia Gesualdo: mecenati, scrittori, artisti

The essay aims to put in evidence the figures of the most significant members of the Gesualdo’s family: patrons, scholars, men of letters and artists.

We suggest the hypothesis that Filippo descends from Elia II. Filippo was the author of theological and philosophical works and was the patron of the composer Giulio Belli.

After Mattia II the genealogical tree splits into two branches: the counts of Conza and the lords of Pescopagano.

The following members of the family descend from the counts of Conza:

1. Sveva, patron of the poetess Laura Terracina;
2. Caterina, Fabrizio and Tiberio Carafa, Caterina’s husband and son were members of the Accademia degli Oziosi.

The following members of the family descend from the lords of Pescopagano:

1. Antonio Maria, mathematician and philosopher;
2. Cardinal Ascanio, to whom Gasparo della Porta dedicated the Primo Libro delle Canzonette a tre voci. This composer was probably one of the musicians that gathered together with Carlo Gesualdo;
3. Scipione and Michele, to whom the first and second book of madrigals by Marien Ambroise are dedicated.