DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36838#0183
126 COUNT BALDASSARE CASTIGLIONE
son, who had been made a Cardinal at twelve years
of age and inherited the cultured tastes of his
house. He, too, was on friendly terms with Guido-
baldo and Elisabetta, while his brother Giuliano, who
spent this winter in Rome, was soon to become one
of Castiglione's dearest friends and companions at the
court of Urbino. And there was lastly the young
Cardinal Galeotto della Rovere, who had succeeded
to his uncle Pope Julius's titular church of S. Pietro
in Vincula, and was said to have more influence at
the Vatican than any other person. The son of
Lucchina della Rovere, the sister whom the fiery old
Pontiff' really loved, and at whose funeral he was seen
to shed tears, Galeotto is described by Marco Dandolo
' as the apple of the Pope's eye,' the one man who
knew how to soothe his uncle's violent moods by his
tact and gentleness J At twenty-four he became in
turn Bishop of Lucca, Governor of Avignon, and
Cardinal, and was daily loaded with new honours and
benefices. But, as all contemporary writers agree,
he made a noble use of his wealth, and was already
renowned as the most generous patron of art and
learning in Rome. Cardinal de' Medici was deeply
attached to him, and his connexion with the ducal
family made him a frequent guest at Urbino, as well
as an intimate friend of the Duchess and Madonna
Emilia.
In Castiglione's letters to Mantua, we find constant
references to these three Cardinals, and if once
Jeronimo could come to Rome, his brother had little
doubt that with the help of these powerful friends he
would be able to obtain some lucrative post. Before
long too the Marquis of Mantua's brother, Sigismondo
Gonzaga, would, no doubt, receive the red hat that
i Sanuto, v. 668.
son, who had been made a Cardinal at twelve years
of age and inherited the cultured tastes of his
house. He, too, was on friendly terms with Guido-
baldo and Elisabetta, while his brother Giuliano, who
spent this winter in Rome, was soon to become one
of Castiglione's dearest friends and companions at the
court of Urbino. And there was lastly the young
Cardinal Galeotto della Rovere, who had succeeded
to his uncle Pope Julius's titular church of S. Pietro
in Vincula, and was said to have more influence at
the Vatican than any other person. The son of
Lucchina della Rovere, the sister whom the fiery old
Pontiff' really loved, and at whose funeral he was seen
to shed tears, Galeotto is described by Marco Dandolo
' as the apple of the Pope's eye,' the one man who
knew how to soothe his uncle's violent moods by his
tact and gentleness J At twenty-four he became in
turn Bishop of Lucca, Governor of Avignon, and
Cardinal, and was daily loaded with new honours and
benefices. But, as all contemporary writers agree,
he made a noble use of his wealth, and was already
renowned as the most generous patron of art and
learning in Rome. Cardinal de' Medici was deeply
attached to him, and his connexion with the ducal
family made him a frequent guest at Urbino, as well
as an intimate friend of the Duchess and Madonna
Emilia.
In Castiglione's letters to Mantua, we find constant
references to these three Cardinals, and if once
Jeronimo could come to Rome, his brother had little
doubt that with the help of these powerful friends he
would be able to obtain some lucrative post. Before
long too the Marquis of Mantua's brother, Sigismondo
Gonzaga, would, no doubt, receive the red hat that
i Sanuto, v. 668.