born Dec. 6, 1478, Casatico, near Mantua
died Feb. 2, 1529, Toledo
Italian diplomat, courtier, and writer.
Born into a noble family, he was attached to the courts of Mantua and Urbino and later entered papal service. He is remembered for The Courtier (1528). Written in the form of a philosophical dialogue, it describes the conduct of the perfect courtier, the qualities of a noble lady, and the ideal relationships between the courtier and his prince. Immediately successful in Italy and beyond, it became a manual for those aspiring to aristocratic manners during the Renaissance.
Baldassare Castiglione, detail of a portrait by Raphael, 1516; in the Louvre, Paris
Giraudon-Art Resource/EB Inc.