of the 16th century through to the end of the 17th. A pan-
theistic and antinomian sect, the Familists were perse-
cuted by Elizabeth I during the 1580s but survived and
spread, enjoying a revival of popularity during the 1650s
before being amalgamated into other dissenting bodies to-
ward the end of the century.
Further reading: Christopher W. Marsh, The Family
of Love in English Society, 1550–1630 (Cambridge, U.K.:
Cambridge University Press, 1993).
Fancelli, Domenico di Alessandro (1469–1519)
Italian sculptor
A native of Settignano, near Florence, Fancelli was one of
the first sculptors to introduce the ideals of the Italian Re-
naissance into Spain. He executed most of his work at
Carrara but frequently visited Ávila and Granada to install
his pieces. His major works include the tombs of Cardinal
Hurtado de Mendoza (1509; Seville cathedral), of Prince
John (1511; San Tomás, Ávila), and of Ferdinand II and
Isabella I (1517; Chapel Royal, Granada). He died at
Zaragoza.
Farel, Guillaume (1489–1565) French Swiss reformer
Born at Gap, he studied in Paris and taught Greek and phi-
losophy there. In 1521 he was converted to the reformed
faith and soon fled to Basle (1524). He preached in several
towns in and near Switzerland, attended a synod of the
Waldensians (Vaudois), and settled in Geneva, where he
invited CALVINto join him in 1536. Both were expelled
(1538) for refusing to impose the Zwinglian doctrines em-
bodied in the usages of Berne on the Genevan church;
Farel spent the rest of his life at Metz and Neuchâtel
(where he died), with occasional visits to Geneva, to
which Calvin had returned in 1541. His writings were ex-
tensive, but marred by hasty composition. His Maniere et
fasson (1533) was the first reformed liturgy in French.
Farnaby, Giles (c. 1560–1640) English composer
He was born into a musical family in Truro, Cornwall, but
little is known of his life beyond that he was a joiner and
worked mainly in London. Farnaby was one of the great-
est keyboard composers of his time. He studied music at
Oxford and graduated in 1592. He was a contributor to
Thomas Ravenscroft’s Psalms (1621) and is included in
Thomas East’s Whole Booke of Psalmes (1592). Farnaby
also wrote a number of four-voice canzonets. His best
work, however, was for the virginal, and 52 of his pieces,
including one for two virginals (the earliest known for
two keyboard instruments), are in the FITZWILLIAM VIR-
GINAL BOOK. Farnaby’s most individual works are his
“genre pieces,” such as Farnaby’s Dreame and His Humour,
which show his mild disdain for contrapuntal elaboration.
Farnese, Alessandro (1545–1592) Duke of Parma
(1586–92)
He was the son of Duke Ottavio Farnese of Parma and
Margaret, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V
(see MARGARET OF PARMA). Brought up in Spain, Farnese
accompanied his uncle, Don JOHN OF AUSTRIA, to LEPANTO
and then (1577) was sent to reinforce him in the Nether-
lands. On Don John’s death (1578) Farnese succeeded him
as governor-general and proved to be an astute diplomat,
winning the discontented Catholic nobles of the southern
provinces over to the Spanish cause under the treaty of
Arras (1579). Combining diplomacy with military skill,
Farnese won back the lost Hapsburg territories, with the
exception of Holland and Zeeland. He captured Antwerp
in 1585 after a famous siege, but Spanish energies were
then dissipated in preparations for the attack on England
(see SPANISH ARMADA) and the Dutch, under MAURICE OF
NASSAU, regained confidence. A sortie into France (1590)
to assist Paris against the forces of Henry of Navarre
(HENRY IV) further weakened Farnese’s position and he
was now fighting the Dutch in the north and the French
Protestants in the south. Worn out, he died near Arras.Farnese, Palazzo A Roman palace commissioned by
Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (later Pope PAUL III) and de-
signed in the Florentine style by Antonio da SANGALLOthe
Younger. Building began in 1517; after Sangallo died
(1546) MICHELANGELObecame the chief architect, intro-
ducing a number of alterations in the mannerist style. In
the 1560s Giacomo da VIGNOLAtook charge of the works,
continuing until his death in 1573, when Giacomo DELLA
PORTAtook over, completing the building in 1589. The in-
terior of the palace was decorated with frescoes by Anni-
bale CARRACCI, notably the Galleria, which was decorated
with mythological scenes. The palace is now occupied by
the French embassy.Farnese family A family from central Italy who ruled
Parma and Piacenza from 1545 to 1731. From the 12th
century the family had served the papacy in war and they
owed their political power to Alessandro Farnese who
became PAUL III (pope 1534–49) and made his son,
Pierluigi (1503–47), duke of Parma and Piacenza.
Pierluigi’s eldest son, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese
(1520–89), supported the arts and scholarship and
completed the Palazzo FARNESE. Pierluigi’s second son,
Ottavio (1521–86), married Charles V’s illegitimate
daughter, Margaret (see MARGARET OF PARMA); their son,
Alessandro FARNESE, was an outstanding general. When
the last Farnese duke died without an heir (1731) the
duchy passed to Don Carlos of Spain.
Further reading: Clare Robertson, “Il Gran Cardi-
nale”: Alessandro Farnese Patron of the Arts (New Haven,
Conn. and London: Yale University Press, 1992).FFaarrnneessee ffaammiillyy 1 17755