In Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess,” what artwork does the Duke show the envoy?

In Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess,” the Duke shows the envoy a portrait of his last duchess. The portrait is displayed behind a curtain that only the Duke can draw, emphasizing his control over both the artwork and the memory of his former wife.

The Duke criticizes the duchess for smiling too readily and treating his noble name no differently from ordinary gifts or courtesies. He says he gave commands that stopped her smiles, a chillingly indirect statement that strongly implies he arranged her death. The portrait therefore becomes evidence of possessiveness and power rather than a simple keepsake.

Browning published the poem in 1842 in Dramatic Lyrics. It is a dramatic monologue: one speaker addresses a silent listener, while the speaker’s own words reveal more than he intends.

The poem is commonly associated with Alfonso II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, and his first wife, Lucrezia de’ Medici. Browning’s poem is not a straightforward historical transcript; it transforms Renaissance material into a study of jealousy, status, and coercive control.