In this world, who can do a thing, will not; And who would do it, cannot, I perceive: Yet the will's somewhat — somewhat, too, the power — And thus we half-men struggle.

In these years Browning was fascinated by and learned from the art and atmosphere of Italy. The subject of the 16th century savant and alchemist was probably suggested to him by the Comte Amédée de Ripart-Monclar to whom it was dedicated. Browning then wrote two other plays one of which was not performed while the other failed Browning having fallen out with Macready.