Baldisseri Castiglione’s Il Libro del Cortegiano (The Book of the Courtier) was one of the most popular, widely distributed and historically significant books in Renaissance Europe. Written between 1508 and 1528, Castiglione drew upon his years of experience of courts around Italy to imagine a discussion about what constitutes a ‘perfect’ courtly gentleman and lady. Soon after its release it had become a relative success in Italy and continued to grow in popularity, reaching over one hundred editions (fifty-eight in Italian) by the end of the sixteenth century. In order to explain why this was the case, this essay will first explore the changes in Italian society and court life that facilitated the demand for a book of its content and
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Classical references provide the clearest examples of these. It is well known that ancient Greece and Rome were still widely studied and influenced much of the period’s art, writing and music. Foremost, ideal courtier that Castiglione was trying to portray has been argued to have been a mere appropriation of Aristotle and Plato. More definitive influence can be seen in the content of the courtier’s discussions of language, philosophy, literature and music. They debate the merits of contemporary Italian dialects over Latin and Greek, and make multiple references to artists and writers, such as Theophrastus and Hesiod, who would only have been understood by those with a classical education. This would simply have made it more celebrated to those who understood. This, and simply its association with the fashion for classicism, would undoubtedly have increased its popularity. Music and dance were also becoming integral to the life of a courtier and to the court’s political and social structures. The Courtier emphasises this, frequently mentioning the importance of the ideal courtier’s ability to sing and dance. This also provide further examples of the book’s classical influences. Koslky argues this convincingly in his comparison with Plato’s Republic, emphasising ancient philosopher’s strong links to music and dance. Yet another aspect …show more content…
Examples such as Domenenichi’s Nobility of Ladies were clearly printed for female audience, as was Francesco della Chiesa’s anthology of women poets Theatre of Learned Ladies (1620). It is especially interesting because the authors were from a surprising variety of social backgrounds; some nuns, courtesans, Jewish women and even commoners. Burke even suggests that the courtier influenced the book, saying that it ‘may well have given women the courage to write and to publish’ themselves. Even elsewhere in Europe, the likes of Juan Luis Vive’s Spanish conduct book The Education of a Christian Woman (1523) were also gaining popularity. Clearly there was demand for books aimed at women, and where this existed, so to would demand for The Courtier. Appealing to this audience of educated women was no doubt partly responsible for this commercial and cultural
Classical references provide the clearest examples of these. It is well known that ancient Greece and Rome were still widely studied and influenced much of the period’s art, writing and music. Foremost, ideal courtier that Castiglione was trying to portray has been argued to have been a mere appropriation of Aristotle and Plato. More definitive influence can be seen in the content of the courtier’s discussions of language, philosophy, literature and music. They debate the merits of contemporary Italian dialects over Latin and Greek, and make multiple references to artists and writers, such as Theophrastus and Hesiod, who would only have been understood by those with a classical education. This would simply have made it more celebrated to those who understood. This, and simply its association with the fashion for classicism, would undoubtedly have increased its popularity. Music and dance were also becoming integral to the life of a courtier and to the court’s political and social structures. The Courtier emphasises this, frequently mentioning the importance of the ideal courtier’s ability to sing and dance. This also provide further examples of the book’s classical influences. Koslky argues this convincingly in his comparison with Plato’s Republic, emphasising ancient philosopher’s strong links to music and dance. Yet another aspect …show more content…
Examples such as Domenenichi’s Nobility of Ladies were clearly printed for female audience, as was Francesco della Chiesa’s anthology of women poets Theatre of Learned Ladies (1620). It is especially interesting because the authors were from a surprising variety of social backgrounds; some nuns, courtesans, Jewish women and even commoners. Burke even suggests that the courtier influenced the book, saying that it ‘may well have given women the courage to write and to publish’ themselves. Even elsewhere in Europe, the likes of Juan Luis Vive’s Spanish conduct book The Education of a Christian Woman (1523) were also gaining popularity. Clearly there was demand for books aimed at women, and where this existed, so to would demand for The Courtier. Appealing to this audience of educated women was no doubt partly responsible for this commercial and cultural