The Relations Between the English and Urbino Courts, 1474-1508

Abstract

Raphael's small painting, depicting St. George Killing dragon with his sword, was the first Italian painting to enter the English Royal Collection. It was given to the King of England in 1506 by the Duke of Urbino, and it is the most tangible evidence that exists today of a connection between the English and Urbino Courts.At its longest this connection lasted two generations. The dates which help to define it are: from 1474, when Federigo da Montefeltro of Urbino was elected Knight of the Garter, to 1508, the year of the death of Duke Guidobaldo, Federigo's son, likewise Knight of the Garter. This is approximately Urbino's ‘Golden Age'. Federigo received a considerable stipend as a military captain, and had few responsibilities, so that he could dispense patronage on a scale which rivaled the Duke of Milan, or even the Pope. Urbino for a short time, about 1468 to 1476, was the center of artistic creativity in Italy, when Federigo was completing his splendid Palace in Urbino.

Francis I and the Courtiers of Castiglione's Courtier

“…Cf. Ghinassi,'Fasi dell'elaborazione ...',cited in note 5,180. 19. At the beginning of the First Book of his Courtier Castiglione in addressing himself to Ariosto said: 'Voi adunque mi richiedete ch'io scriva qual sia, al parer mio, la forma di cortegiana più conveniente a gentilomo che viva in corte de' principi, per la quale egli possa e sappia perfettamente loro servire in ogni cosa ragionevole, acquistandone da essi grazie e dagli altri laude.'…”

“…' Cf. Ghinassi,'Fasi dell'elaborazione ...',cited in note 5,180. 27. Castiglione, Il Libro del Cortegiano, Book III, lxxxv, see Maier edition, cited in note 19, 'Fasi dell'elaborazione ...',cited in note 5,180,and Ghinassi,'L'ultimo revisore ...',cited in note 8,222,cf.…”

“…Ghinassi,'Fasi dell'elaborazione ...',cited in note 5,180. 27. Castiglione, Il Libro del Cortegiano, Book III, lxxxv, see Maier edition, cited in note 19, 'Fasi dell'elaborazione ...',cited in note 5,180,and Ghinassi,'L'ultimo revisore ...',cited in note 8,222,cf. also R. Menéndez Pidal, 'The Catholic Kings according to Machiavelli and Castiglione', in English translation in Spain in the fifteenth century, 1369-1516, ed.…”