BALDASSAR CASTIGLIONE’S TREATISE AS A SOURCE FOR STUDYING THE SPECIFICS OF COURT LIFE IN ITALY IN THE XV-XVI CENTURIES

Abstract

The article analyzes the treatise "The book of the courtier" Baldassar Castiglione, one of the most prominent representatives of the Italian aristocracy, diplomat and writer. The treatise was written in the 16th century. and concerns the period of service of Baldassare Castiglion at the court of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino. On the pages of the essay, discussions are given about the physical and moral qualities of the ideal courtier, the ways and circumstances under which the courtier must confirm these qualities, the image of the "palace lady" is presented here, as well as thoughts about the relationship between the courtier and his master.
In this study, the essay of an Italian aristocrat is considered as a source for studying the specifics of the image of the courtier in the Renaissance in Italy. The author of the article analyzes the key characteristics of the "ideal courtier" given by Baldassare Castiillon, as well as the extent to which these characteristics correspond to the Renaissance ideas of the priority of a free creative personality.