Le residenze dell'aristocrazia napoletana del Settecento. Indagine sugli inventari dei Pignatelli di Monteleone

The present paper analyzes six inventories relative to residences in the Kingdom of Naples belonging to the Monteleone branch of the Pignatelli family – inventories going back to the first half of the 18th century. Comparing them allows hypotheses to be made as to how much importance these aristocrats attributed to each of their residences. As Gerard Labrot has shown, there was clearly a falling off in expenditures for the feudal castle in Monteleone, of which the deteriorating condition of the furnishings offers ample evidence. On the other hand, the inventories bear witness to the dukes’ growing fondness for their new vacation residence in Barra, a luxurious villa, enriched by the presence of a garden park with exotic animals and a private game reserve. However, the main residence for their aristocratic life was in the capital city of the realm, for it was there that the most treasured objects were held, like the picture gallery and the library, and family memories preserved.