Early Modern English cover of the Book of the Courtier.

The Book of the Courtier (Italian: Il Cortegiano) was written by Baldassare Castiglione over the course of many years beginning in 1508 and published in 1528 just before he died. Baldassare was inspired to write the Courtier by his experiences as a courtier of the virgin Duchess Elisabetta Gonzaga at the court of Urbino. The Courtier is a dialogue in four books on the subject of what constitutes a perfect courtier, and in book three, a perfect lady. Image File history File links moved over from meta File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links moved over from meta File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Shakespeares writings are universally associated with Early Modern English Early Modern English refers to the stage of the English language used from about the end of the Middle English period (the latter half of the 1400s) to 1650. ... i love orange pekoe tea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... Panorama of Urbino with the cathedral and the palazzo ducale Urbino is a city in the Marche in Italy, southwest of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site with a great cultural history during the Renaissance as the seat of Federico da Montefeltro. ...

The Courtier was an immediate success and was one of the best selling books of the sixteenth century. During his visits to Italy, Francois I of France read The Courtier and was so impressed that he had it translated into French. He had several copies made, which he then brought back to France to distribute amongst his courtiers. He felt that the book portrayed the model royal court and he strove to create this type of court for himself. Francis I, Renaissance prince, lover of women, patron of the arts Francis I (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 - July 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (French: le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims...

To this day, the Book of the Courtier remains the definitive account of Renaissance court life. By any measure, it is one of the most important of Renaissance works. This article is about the European Renaissance of the 14th-17th centuries. ...

Plot

The book is organized as a series of fictional conversations that occur between the courtiers of the Duke of Urbino in the year 1507 (when Baldassare was in fact part of the Duke's Court). It takes place over the course of four evenings, or four books, similar in structure to Boccaccio's frame-tale Decameron (1353). A courtier is a person who attends upon, and thus receives a privileged position from, a powerful person, usually a head of state. ... The Duchy of Urbino is a former soverign state of northern Italy. ... Year 1507 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... A trial at the Old Bailey in London as drawn by Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin for Ackermanns Microcosm of London (1808-11). ... The Decameron is a collection of novellas that was finished by Giovanni Boccaccio in 1353. ...

Beginning with Elisabetta Gonzaga asking for a topic of conversation for the evening, the work is narrated by Ludovico da Canossa, Federigo Fregoso, and Julian de Medici among others. The courtier is described as having a cool mind, a good voice (with beautiful, elegant and brave words), and proper bearing and gestures. At the same time though, the courtier is expected to have a warrior spirit, to be athletic and to have good knowledge of the humanities, classics, and how to draw and paint. However, with all these skills he does everything with certain nonchalance or "sprezzatura". Federigo Fregoso (c. ... For other uses, see Classics (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Sources

• The Book of the Courtier (1959), translated by Charles S. Singleton, generally considered the best translation. Available in a number of editions including: Doubleday ISBN 0385094213 (1959) and Norton Critical Edition ISBN 0393976068 (2002)
• The Book of the Courtier (1903), English translation by Leonard Eckstein Opdycke. C. Scribner's Sons. From Google Books.
• The Book of the Courtier (1561), English translation by Thomas Hoby as edited by Walter Raleigh for David Nutt, Publisher, London, 1900. From the University of Oregon.
• The Book of the Courtier (1561), English translation by Thomas Hoby as edited by Walter Raleigh for David Nutt, Publisher, London, 1900. From Google Books.