File
First book of the Courtier, by Baldassare Castiglione (Hardwick MS 64)
Catalogue reference: HMS/4/15
What’s it about?
This record is a file about the First book of the Courtier, by Baldassare Castiglione (Hardwick MS 64) dating from n.d. [c.1600].
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Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- HMS/4/15
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Title (The name of the record)
- First book of the Courtier, by Baldassare Castiglione (Hardwick MS 64)
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Date (When the record was created)
- n.d. [c.1600]
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Description (What the record is about)
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This manuscript is a Latin translation of the Book of the Courtier - a sixteenth-century courtesy book written by Baldassare Castiglione and published in vernacular Italian in 1528. This book tells a gentleman how to act. It is a mix of the chivalrous ideals of the medieval knight and the educational programme of the humanists.
The manucript is in very neat secretary hand written on hand-drawn ruled pages. A number of corrections have been made to the text in a different hand - possibly made by the Cavendishes' tutor Bruen. It has been suggested that it was probably translated into Latin by William Cavendish (the son of the 1st Earl) as part of his tutoring in Italian culture. The young William was profficient in Italian and Latin and his later translation of Italian texts is documented. Timothy Raylor points out that the account book HMS/1/15 (HM/23) includes an entry for a gift of £5 to Mr William "upon finishing of the translation of the Courtier into Latin and English" in September 1605.
Folios 43-59r are blank. Folio 59v has written on it some numbers and "Bathassae".
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Related material (A cross-reference to other related records)
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HMS/4/16 and HMS/4/17 are partly in the same very neat secretary hand.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- Devonshire Collection Archives, Chatsworth
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Former department reference (Former identifier given by the originating creator)
- HM/64
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Language (The language of the record)
- Latin
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Physical description (The amount and form of the record)
- 1 volume; 59 folios (118pp)
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Dimensions (The size of the record)
- 163(w) x 213(h) x 20(d) mm
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Physical condition (Aspects of the physical condition of the record that may affect or limit its use)
- Brown calf leather-bound book with the initials WC stamped in gold on the front and back covers.
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Administrative / biographical background (Historical or biographical information about the creator of the record and the context of its creation)
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The Italian author, courtier, and diplomat Baldassare Castiglione (1478-1529) is known primarily for his "Book of the Courtier." This work, which portrays the ideal courtier, was a chief vehicle in spreading Italian humanism into England and France.
Source: 'Baldassare Castiglione', Your Dictionary.com, https://biography.yourdictionary.com/baldassare-castiglione [accessed 8 Jun 2021].
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/d024c5d3-62f9-458c-a8f0-30e9e7149964/
Series information
HMS/4
Manuscripts
See the series level description for more information about this record.
Catalogue hierarchy
This record is held at Devonshire Collection Archives, Chatsworth
Within the fonds: HMS
Hardwick Manuscripts
Within the series: HMS/4
Manuscripts
You are currently looking at the file: HMS/4/15
First book of the Courtier, by Baldassare Castiglione (Hardwick MS 64)