House of Farnese
influential family in Renaissance Italy
The House of Farnese was a noble family from Italy. They owned fine art collections within their many palaces throughout Rome. Two of their members became Popes. The famous Elisabetta Farnese was a member of the family and she had great political influence over her husband, Philip V of Spain. The family were also the rulers of the small Italian Duchy of Parma. The family's art collection was only rivalled by that of the Medici.
