It is interesting that in both Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning poems, art and it’s meaning is at upmost importance. Art allows them both to escape reality, which allows them to view their life in a different. Each poet portrays to the reader that art defines them as a person, but each in distinct ways. In the poem My Last Duchess, Robert Browning writes about a fictional piece of art that has value to him. He emphasizes that the main painting on the wall is of his deceased wife, whom he misses dearly. Collecting pieces of art was one of Robert’s favorite hobbies that allowed him to find peace within. His art collection was kept hidden from the public eye, only revealed to his guests and close friends. In this particular poem,
