A portrait of Baldassare Castiglione (1478–1529), completed by Raphael c. 1514–15. Castiglione was an Italian courtier, diplomat, soldier and author during the Renaissance. Among his writings is The Book of the Courtier, which is framed around a series of conversations between courtiers at the court of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro and addresses the constitution of a perfect courtier and a perfect lady.Painting: Raphael