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| Bardi: the Noble and the Court |
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Federico
II Landi (1573 - 1630)
Son of Claudio II and Giovanna of Aragon, he succeeded his father
in 1589. Federico was the last of the Landi who chose to live
in the castle of Bardi, transforming the fortress into a sumptuous
stately residence.
The Farnese family ruled at Parma in this period and relations
between the Landi family and this powerful family were tense:
in 1547 Agostino Landi had participated in the assassination
of Pier Luigi Farnese and in 1578 Claudio Landi had woven a
conspiracy plot against Ottavio Farnese. Throughout his life,
Federico attempted to oppose the power of the Dukes of Parma
by allying himself with other lords, but on his death, owing
to the lack of a direct descendant, his possesions passed into
the hands of the Farnese family.
The creation of an extensive library is owed to Federico Landi,
along with a new armoury equipped according to the Mannerist
tastes of the Wunderkammer, a picture gallery of great value
which included, amongst other things, a Madonna with Child
and San Giovanni by Botticelli and the Mystic Wedding
of Santa Caterina by Parmigianino - painted on a panel now
preserved at Bardi in the church of Santa Maria Addolorata.
It was also due to Prince Federico that a small studio with
frescoes representing the coats of arms of families related
to the Landi came about, and the views of the villages included
in the possessions of the family.
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