Shot partly on location in Bulgaria, the opening and final scenes of the film are both set in the Basilica of Sant’Andrea in Mantua where Giovanni’s corpse is on display. The Profession of Arms demonstrates the inequality of the fight between Giovanni’s men intent on defending Rome and the Imperial army under Georg von Frundsberg which is equipped with the newest type of cannon (one will deal a lethal blow to Giovanni) provided by Duke Alfonso I of Este in Ferrara Castle.
The Marquis of Mantua, Federico II Gonzaga, is keen to avoid war in his land, so allows the landsknechts to cross via the fortified gate of Curtatone (actually Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino – CR), which shortly after will be barred to the Papal army. The residence of Federico II is the Ducal Palace of Mantua, where wounded Giovanni dreams of being at a fair in the Cortile della Cavallerizza. His mistress also lives in Mantua, at the Casa della Beata Osanna Andreasi in the ancient Cervo neighbourhood.
A wounded Giovanni is taken to the Mantuan palace owned by Aloisio Gonzaga, actually the Palazzo Barbò in Torre Pallavicina (BG) where his deathbed is prepared in a sumptuous room frescoed with grotesques.
Shot partly on location in Bulgaria, the opening and final scenes of the film are both set in the Basilica of Sant’Andrea in Mantua where Giovanni’s corpse is on display. The Profession of Arms demonstrates the inequality of the fight between Giovanni’s men intent on defending Rome and the Imperial army under Georg von Frundsberg which is equipped with the newest type of cannon (one will deal a lethal blow to Giovanni) provided by Duke Alfonso I of Este in Ferrara Castle.
The Marquis of Mantua, Federico II Gonzaga, is keen to avoid war in his land, so allows the landsknechts to cross via the fortified gate of Curtatone (actually Rocca Sforzesca in Soncino – CR), which shortly after will be barred to the Papal army. The residence of Federico II is the Ducal Palace of Mantua, where wounded Giovanni dreams of being at a fair in the Cortile della Cavallerizza. His mistress also lives in Mantua, at the Casa della Beata Osanna Andreasi in the ancient Cervo neighbourhood.
A wounded Giovanni is taken to the Mantuan palace owned by Aloisio Gonzaga, actually the Palazzo Barbò in Torre Pallavicina (BG) where his deathbed is prepared in a sumptuous room frescoed with grotesques.
Cinemaundici, Rai Cinema, StudioCanal, KirchMedia
The last days of Giovanni de’ Medici who is destined to die soon after in Mantua after being seriously wounded by cannon fire in San Nicolò Po while failing to stop the descent of the Holy Roman Empire’s German landsknechts intent on reaching and sacking Rome.
