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(Book by Castiglione, Baldassarre)
Book by Castiglione, Baldassarre
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(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
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Diplomat Soldier courtier Renaissance author
Castiglione was born into an illustrious family at Casatico, near Mantua (Lombardy), where his family had constructed an impressive palazzo. The signoria (lordship) of Casatico (today part of the commune of Marcaria) had been assigned to an ancestor, Baldassare da Castiglione, a friend of Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, in 1445.
Baldassare Castiglione's education was completed at the University of Milan while he was being trained at Duke Ludovico Sforza's court in the customary accomplishments of the young nobleman.
In 1496, Baldassare Castiglione entered the Duke's service, remaining there until his father's death in 1499 recalled him to Mantua. For the next five years he served the Marquis of Mantua, sharing with him the dangers of the ill-fated French attack on Naples.
In 1504 Castiglione's services were sought by the Duke of Urbino, and he thus entered into one of the most renowned courts of Italy, where Duke Guidobaldo and his charming consort, Elisabetta Gonzaga, gave hospitality to some of the most brilliant men of the Italian Renaissance. Pietro Bembo spent there the six happiest years of his life; Giuliano de'Medici was a frequent visitor, along with Cardinal Bibbiena and others. Castiglione was well received by this noble company, although he was constantly embarrassed by the financial difficulties that were to attend him all his life. Sent by the ailing duke to England in 1506 to receive as proxy the Order of the Garter from Henry VII, he acquitted himself most honorably.
Guidobaldo's death in 1508 marked the end of an epoch for Castiglione as well as for Urbino. In the service of the new duke, Francesco I, Castiglione spent much time in Rome. On the one hand, this duty was made pleasant for him by the company of Bembo and others formerly at Urbino; and Castiglione, who had already composed a dramatic eclogue, Tirsi ("Thyrsis"), was inspired to write further lyrics in Latin and in Italian. On the other hand, his professional duties were arduous, as Duke Francesco's position became daily more precarious. These two influences combined to turn his attention to a treatise in dialogue form, Il Cortegiano (The Courtier), which he claimed to have begun soon after Guidobaldo's death. The first three books may indeed have existed then in rough form, but the fourth book definitely dates from the Roman period. Its tone indicates clearly that the recent changes had filled its author with a nostalgic appreciation of the old order at Urbino and a realization that it is harder to find the perfect prince than to train the perfect courtier.
In 1516 the machinations of the Medici finally drove Duke Francesco from Urbino, and Castiglione found himself back at Mantua, where the duke had taken refuge with the Gonzagas. Financial pressure had now increased to a point where Castiglione was forced into a marriage that proved unexpectedly happy. During these peaceful years The Courtier was completed, but was not published until 1528.
With the accession in 1519 of Federigo Gonzaga, Castiglione was again sent to Rome where he remained until"borrowed" in 1524 by Pope Clement VII as nuncio to the Emperor Charles V. He reached Spain, and the climax of his career, under most trying circumstances. Cordially received by Charles and his court, Castiglione was exasperated by Clement's vacillation and duplicity, which undid all his good services and led in 1527 to the sack of Rome. Although blameless and later absolved by Clement himself, Castiglione never recovered from the shock of this misfortune.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
(Book by Castiglione, Baldassarre)
Baldassare Castiglione was married to Ippolita Torelli.
In 1516 Castiglione was back in Mantua, where he married a very young Ippolita Torelli, descendant of another noble Mantuan family.
