Courtier, The

Book published by the Italian courtier Baldassare Castiglione in 1528 describing the accomplishments of the ideal Renaissance courtier. Written as a dialogue between courtiers and ladies, it presents the courtier as a man of noble birth educated as a soldier, scholar and a connoisseur of the arts. The courtier should excel at a wide range of civilized pursuits, but always with effortless grace, sprezzatura. The book was soon widely translated (into English by Sir Thomas Hoby in 1561) and left a deep and lasting impact on European manners.

The book presents an idealized picture of the court of Urbino under the enlightened rule of Duke Guidobaldo da Montefeltro in 1508. Written and gradually expanded between 1508 and 1524, the book was modelled on the dialogues of the Greek philosopher Plato and on the treatise De oratore/Orator by the Roman orator Cicero.