Main figure is based on Bronzino’s ‘Portrait of a young man with a book’ (~1540)
The scene is based on Castiglione’s book ‘Il Libro del Cortigiani’ with anecdotes of lives of artists, philosophers literators, and ethical codes of the Courtiers are described, as a handbook '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 with reference to the afore mentioned inspiring friendship.