Summary:
“Andea del Sarto” is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning in 1855, included in Men and Women. The poem is based on the life of the Italian Renaissance painter Andrea del Sarto, who was known for his technical perfection but lacked the creative genius of his contemporaries like Michelangelo and Raphael. The speaker, Andrea, reflects on his life, lamenting his lost artistic potential, his unfulfilled dreams, and the influence of his wife, Lucrezia, whom he loves despite her coldness. The poem explores themes of artistic ambition, regret, love, and compromise, portraying Andrea as a tragic figure caught between his skill and his limitations.
MCQs:
- Who is the speaker in “Andrea del Sarto”?
a) Michelangelo
b) Raphael
c) Andrea del Sarto
d) Robert Browning
Answer: c) Andrea del Sarto - What type of poem is “Andrea del Sarto”?
a) Lyric poem
b) Sonnet
c) Dramatic monologue
d) Ballad
Answer: c) Dramatic monologue - Who is Andrea speaking to in the poem?
a) His friend
b) His wife, Lucrezia
c) His mentor
d) His rival
Answer: b) His wife, Lucrezia
Andrea del Sarto - What does Andrea del Sarto regret?
a) Not becoming a king
b) Not being a poet
c) Not achieving artistic greatness
d) Not having children
Answer: c) Not achieving artistic greatness - What is Andrea del Sarto’s main weakness, according to the poem?
a) Lack of ambition
b) Technical perfection but no creative genius
c) Poor financial management
d) Dishonesty
Answer: b) Technical perfection but no creative genius - Which artistic period does Andrea del Sarto belong to?
a) Baroque
b) Romanticism
c) Renaissance
d) Modernism
Answer: c) Renaissance - How does Andrea describe his wife, Lucrezia?
a) Completely devoted to him
b) A source of inspiration and support
c) Indifferent and materialistic
d) A skilled artist herself
Answer: c) Indifferent and materialistic - What does Andrea believe about his own talent?
a) He considers himself the greatest painter ever
b) He acknowledges his skill but sees his limitations
c) He thinks he is better than Michelangelo
d) He believes he has no talent at all
Answer: b) He acknowledges his skill but sees his limitations - What does Andrea say about Michelangelo and Raphael?
a) He admires their creativity but envies their success
b) He considers them inferior artists
c) He believes they stole his ideas
d) He never mentions them
Answer: a) He admires their creativity but envies their success - What is the main theme of the poem?
a) War and peace
b) Artistic compromise and lost potential
c) Love and romance
d) Political ambition
Answer: b) Artistic compromise and lost potential
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Andrea del Sarto |
| Poet | Robert Browning |
| Year Written | 1855 |
| Year Published | 1855 |
| Poem Type | Dramatic Monologue |
| Verse Form | Blank Verse |
| Setting | Florence, Italy |
| Main Character | Andrea del Sarto |
| Themes | Artistic Failure, Regret, Love, Compromise, Genius vs. Perfection |
| Tone | Reflective, Melancholic, Resigned |
| Famous Quote | “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” |
| Main Conflict | Andrea’s technical mastery vs. his lack of true artistic genius |
| Structure | Continuous verse in iambic pentameter |
| Legacy | Considered one of Browning’s best dramatic monologues, offering insight into the psychology of an artist |