The Marriage Portrait Character Analysis

Lucrezia

Lucrezia de’ Medici is the young Duchess of Ferrara. She is the daughter of Cosimo and Eleonora, the sister of Maria and Isabella, and the wife of Alfonso. From a very early… read analysis of Lucrezia

Alfonso

Alfonso II d’Este is the Duke of Ferrara. He is the son of Alfonso’s mother and the late Duke of Ferrara, the brother of Elisabetta and Nunciata, and the husband of Lucrezia… read analysis of Alfonso

Sofia

Sofia is an elderly Neapolitan nurse who travels to Florence with Eleonora when she marries Cosimo, taking care of the children along the way. Sofia keeps a stern watch over her charges—including Lucrezia… read analysis of Sofia

Emilia

Emilia is a maid who works in the Florentine palace before traveling with Lucrezia to Ferrara after her marriage to Alfonso. Emilia’s mother worked in the palace’s kitchens, and nursed Lucrezia when Emilia was… read analysis of Emilia

Cosimo

Cosimo I de’ Medici is the Grand Duke of Tuscany. He is Eleonora’s husband, and the father of Lucrezia, Maria, and Isabella, as well as their five sons. Vitelli is his… read analysis of Cosimo

Eleonora

Eleonora di Toledo is the Duchess of Tuscany. She is Cosimo’s wife, and the mother of Lucrezia, Maria, and Isabella, in addition to their five sons. Sofia is her personal nurse… read analysis of Eleonora

Baldassare

Baldassare is Alfonso’s chief political advisor and personal confidante. He and Alfonso were raised together and are as close as brothers. Lucrezia immediately senses that Baldassare dislikes her, and she thinks he is jealous… read analysis of Baldassare

Jacopo

Jacopo is an apprentice of Il Bastianino, who works alongside Maurizio to paint Lucrezia’s marriage portrait. Lucrezia first encounters Jacopo collapsed in the courtyard and saves his life using honey water, an… read analysis of Jacopo

Il Bastianino

Il Bastianino—whose full name is Sebastiano Filippi—is the artist hired by Alfonso to paint Lucrezia’s marriage portrait. Jacopo and Maurizio are his apprentices, who do most of the work on the artist’s commissions… read analysis of Il Bastianino

Elisabetta

Elisabetta is the daughter of the late Duke of Ferrara and Alfonso’s mother. She is Alfonso and Nunciata’s sister, and Ercole Contrari’s lover. Elisabetta welcomes Lucrezia to Ferrara with warmth and kindness… read analysis of Elisabetta

Nunciata

Nunciata is the daughter of the late Duke of Ferrara and Alfonso’s mother. She is Alfonso and Elisabetta’s sister. Unlike Elisabetta, Nunciata is remarkably unfriendly toward Lucrezia, and she tactlessly speculates about… read analysis of Nunciata

Maria

Maria is the oldest daughter of Cosimo and Eleonora, and the sister of Lucrezia and Isabella. As competent and respectable as her mother, Maria is betrothed to Alfonso before her sudden death leaves… read analysis of Maria

Ercole Contrari

Ercole Contrari is the head guardsman of Alfonso’s castle in Ferrara. He is having a secret affair with Elisabetta. When Alfonso discovers Contrari has compromised Elisabetta’s honor, he remorselessly sentences him to death… read analysis of Ercole Contrari

Isabella

Isabella is the daughter of Cosimo and Eleonora, and the sister of Maria and Lucrezia. Like Lucrezia’s other siblings, Isabella treats her with mild disdain. Though Isabella is also married off, she is… read analysis of Isabella

The Physician

The physician is a medical doctor hired by Alfonso to determine why Lucrezia is not yet pregnant. He prescribes her a treatment regimen that severely limits her freedom, confining her to her room and confiscating… read analysis of The Physician

Emilia’s Mother

Emilia’s mother works in the kitchens in the Florentine palace. At Eleonora’s command, she nurses the difficult baby Lucrezia and lets her play with her own daughter, Emilia. After Lucrezia returns to the… read analysis of Emilia’s Mother

The Late Duke of Ferrara

The late Duke of Ferrara is the husband of Alfonso’s mother, and the father of Alfonso, Elisabetta, and Nunciata. Cosimo tells Lucrezia there is a rumor that the late Duke imprisoned… read analysis of The Late Duke of Ferrara

Alfonso’s Mother

Alfonso’s mother is the wife of the late Duke of Ferrara and the mother of Alfonso, Elisabetta, and Nunciata. Her Protestant leanings cause trouble in the Catholic court of Ferrara, prompting Alfonso… read analysis of Alfonso’s Mother

Minor Characters

Maurizio

Maurizio is an apprentice of Il Bastianino, who works alongside Jacopo on Lucrezia’s marriage portrait. Talkative and friendly, Maurizio tells Lucrezia that Alfonso has a reputation for being two-faced like the Roman god Janus. He and Jacopo help Lucrezia escape Alfonso’s plot to murder her.

Vitelli

Vitelli is Cosimo’s senior political advisor, assisting him in forming alliances with other noble families. Vitelli recommends marrying the young Lucrezia to Alfonso in Maria’s place, though this plan is temporarily foiled by Sofia.

Clelia

Clelia is Lucrezia’s lady-in-waiting, sent by Nunciata to spy on her sister-in-law. She and Emilia compete for Lucrezia’s trust and attention.

The Art Tutor

The art tutor works in the palace in Florence, instructing Cosimo and Eleonora’s children in illustration. He recognizes and nurtures Lucrezia’s artistic talent.

The Antiquities Tutor

The antiquities tutor works in the Florentine palace, instructing Cosimo and Eleonora’s children in their studies of the classical world. He discovers Lucrezia’s drawing of Iphigenia and Agamemnon and commends her talent to the art tutor.

The Marriage Portrait Characters