Balthazar, an eminent Italian nobleman, descended from an illustrious and ancient family, and born at his own villa at Cafalico in the duchy of Milan in 1478. He studied painting, sculpture, and architecture, as appears from a book he wrote in favour of these arts; and excelled so much in them, that Raphael Urbino, and Buonaroti, though incomparable artists, never thought their works complete, without the approbation of Count Castiglioni. When he was 26 years of age, Guido Ubaldo, duke of Urbino, sent him ambassador to Pope Julius II. He was sent upon a second embassy to Louis XII. of France, and upon a third to Henry VII. of England. After he had despatched his business there, he returned, and began his celebrated work, entitled the Courrier; which he completed at Rome in 1516. This work is full of moral and political instruction: and if we seek for the Italian tongue in perfection, it is said to be nowhere better found than in this performance. A version of this work, together with the original Italian, was published at London in 1727, by A. P. Castiglioni, a gentleman of the same family, who resided there under the patronage of Dr Gibson, bishop of London. Count Castiglioni was sent by Clement VII. to the court of the emperor Charles V. in quality of legate, and died at Toledo in 1529.