Castiglione, Baldassare, << `kahs` tee LYOH nay, `bahl` dahs SAH ray >> (1478-1529), was a writer of the Italian Renaissance. He is best known for The Book of the Courtier (1528), in which he set forth standards of conduct for the perfect courtier. This work is in the form of dialogues and has four sections. The first two sections describe the qualities and virtues of the ideal courtier. The third deals with the court lady and her role in her husband’s achievement of excellence. The fourth section relates this excellence to the courtier’s responsibility to his prince. Translations of Castiglione’s book became guides to social refinement in Spain, France, and England.
Castiglione was born on Dec. 6, 1478, near Mantua. He spent much time in the courts of Milan and Urbino. The Urbino court was the setting for The Book of the Courtier. He died on Feb. 2, 1529.
