Baldassare Castiglione

Baldassare Castiglione was an Italian Renaissance diplomat, courtier, and author, best known for his book "The Book of the Courtier" (unfinished but influential). Written around 1528, it offers a detailed guide on how a gentleman or lady should behave, emphasizing qualities like grace, education, and diplomacy. The book reflects Renaissance ideals of balance between personal achievement and social responsibility, and it became a key text on courtly manners and humanist education. Castiglione's work influenced European customs and ideas about proper conduct among the nobility during the 16th century.