context

• What does the portrait of the duchess suggest about art?

  Art has the power to make things permanent
• How does the narrator view his former wife in relation to art?

  He sees her as an object to be admired
• What does the duke's response to the painting reveal about him?

  It shows his arrogance and cruelty
• What implication does the duke's response have about art's power?

  Art can reveal a person's true nature
• What themes are suggested by the portraits of the duchess and the duke's response?

  • Art's permanence
  • Objectification in relationships
  • Arrogance and cruelty in character
  • Art revealing true nature