Castiglione, Baldassare, kahs tee LYOH nay, bahl dahs SAH ray (1478-1529), was a writer of the Italian Renaissance. He is best known for The Book of the Courtier (1528), in which he set forth standards of conduct for the perfect courtier. This work is in the form of dialogues and has four sections. The first two sections describe the qualities and virtues of the ideal courtier. The third deals with the court lady and her role in her husband's achievement of excellence. The fourth section relates this excellence to the courtier's responsibility to his prince. Translations of Castiglione's book became guides to social refinement in Spain, France, and England.