Duchess of Ferrara
by T. Gene Davis
[This is a Platonic dialogue portraying Socrates in a scenario just previous to the completion of the portrait Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" speaks of.]
Socrates: Duchess of Ferrara, it is pleasing to meet you here in your gardens. What brings you and this sweet young man out into your orchards this morning?
Frà Pandolf: Who is this flea ridden peasant?
Duchess of Ferrara: Hold your tongue. This is Socrates the great philosopher. We speak often.
Socrates, this young man is Frà Pandolf. The Duke has commissioned him to paint me. The servants have set his equipment in the orchard at his request. He will paint my portrait here this morning.
Socrates: I am honored to meet you Frà Pandolf.
Frà Pandolf: I thought you drank poison and died a long time ago.
Duchess: What wisdom have you to share with us this morning?
Socrates: No wisdom, just this small branch of cherries.
Duchess: Thank you. They are wonderful.
Frà Pandolf: Duchess we haven't time to commune. We must commence the portrait now that we have reached my equipment. Here, sit on this wooden stool, like so. Good, now stay absolutely still. Don't move and don't talk.
Socrates: Frà Pandolf, you seem to be very proficient in the art of painting. You must have much practice, and success to tell of.
Frà Pandolf: It is true. I spent my childhood studying with such masters as Van Gogh, Picasso and Charles Manson. After learning my profession proficiently, I embarked on my already renowned career. My portraits include seven royalty, even a king.
Socrates: Such a grand career must give you much insight into the human existence.
Frà Pandolf: Yes, I have learned to recognize the tones, shades and shapes that are found in the human face and body, but overlooked by the ignorant viewer.
Socrates: You are so successful, yet you look distressed.
Frà Pandolf: It's this half-flush that dies along the Duchess's throat. Paint could never hope to reproduce it.
Socrates: So your art is at a loss. You cannot imitate the Duchess's face.
Frà Pandolf: I disagree. With time I'm sure I could paint a portrait that reproduces her beauty exactly.
Socrates: You do not agree? Let me explain why you cannot reproduce the Duchess's face correctly. The portrait is a mere imitation. You cannot get the flush right because you only understand the human body in a superficial sense. Then, equally ignorant people believe that it is alive, eats, breaths and perhaps even say, "It has a soul."
Duchess: But Socrates, I must babble, babble, babble ....
Socrates: Now Duchess, if you will only look at what you've just said you will be forced to agree it is uttered nonsense.
Duchess: Yes Socrates, I believe that you're right.
Frà Pandolf: I have work to do, so Socrates if you'll only ....
Socrates: Duchess, surely you have noticed how poor a portrait's imitation of a person is when you place your face a mere inch from the canvas.
Duchess: Actually, I have.
Socrates: Frà Pandolf doesn't create people. He is no physician to describe the human anatomy. He is no philosopher either. He does not understand the soul He is an imitator, and of low caliber. He can never hope to understand your true existence.
Duchess: I see that now.
Socrates: He will only paint you to be pleasing to the ignorant masses. Do not lower yourself to such degradation.
Socrates: I would hearken to your advice Socrates, but the Duke is looking so forward to this portrait's completion.
Frà Pandolf: Socrates, will you leave? I must finish.
Socrates: Frà Pandolf, you wish to find the correct replica of that half-flush? Delve beyond the human appearance and learn of our true existence. Learn of the soul. In fact, you should give up this foolish imitative art and spend your time more productively, say, in cobbling or military tactics.
Here, I see the Duke coming to check on his portrait's progress.
Duke of Ferrara: Is this the gardener I saw vandalizing my tree?
Duchess: He was giving me cherries. It was very sweet of him.
Socrates: I'm not a gardener. I'm a philosopher.
Duchess: Frà Pandolf don't you agree that Socrates is a sweet heart?
Frà Pandolf: I ....
Duke: Aren't you finished with the portrait?
Frà Pandolf: It's this half-flush.
Duchess: I love the way your nose crumples when you yell.
Socrates: Duke, I must persuade you to stop Frà Pandolf from finishing this portrait. Portraits bring to the forefront irrational thoughts -- emotions which prevent the influence of logic and rational from being pervasive.
Duke: You officious fool. I want this portrait finished by nightfall or I'll have you all killed.
Frà Pandolf: Finally, he's left. How did I allow myself to get impressed into his service?
Socrates: He wasn't serious about that "kill" thing, was he?
Duchess: You sound nervous Socrates. Your hand is shaking even as you run it through your beard.
Frà Pandolf: Don't sweat it old man. Duchess, ... you've moved again!
Socrates: I'd believe you believe your advice if your voice weren't shaking.
Frà Pandolf: Duchess!
Duchess: But the stool's so hard.
Frà Pandolf: Now I found our conversation to be fascinating but I must finish my work. So Socrates, ... leave.
Socrates: I will be off. Perhaps I can convince the Duke to destroy this painting. The worst he could do is offer me a drink.