The imagery of this painting is based on Castiglione’s book ‘Il Libro del Cortigiano’ in which anecdotes of lives of artists, philosophers literators, and ethical codes of the Courtiers are described as a handbook of "how to behave" at the court. Castiglione was himself often a guest at Frederico da Montefeltro’s palace in Urbino. In the foreground left are Castiglione and Raphael and there is a banquet scene where two Cortigiani are seated, one at the back and the one at the front and this is another reference to the afore mentioned inspiring friendship.