Andrea del Sarto : Themes
Andrea del Sarto is a notable literary work by Robert Browning. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Andrea del Sarto.
Themes
Art vs Soul: Andrea’s paintings are technically perfect, but they lack feeling or soul. Andrea is called the “faultless painter” because he paints without mistakes. But he feels his art is empty. He compares himself to Rafael and Michelangelo. Their work is not perfect, but full of life and spirit. Andrea says that true art needs a soul, not just skill. He feels sad that he cannot reach that greatness.
Love and Failure: Andrea’s deep love for his wife Lucrezia becomes a cause of his failure. Andrea loves Lucrezia and always obeys her. But she does not truly love or support him. She only cares about money and may be in love with someone else. Andrea partly blames her for his lost career. Still, he forgives her and stays with her. His personal love life holds him back from artistic success.