Alessandro, the Duke of Florence (Morgan) is about to condemn Benvenuto Cellini (March) to death, but the duchess (Bennett) persuades him to spare the goldsmith/adventurer, who's often in trouble. Alessandro reconsiders and orders him to be hanged, but the wily Cellini talks his way out of it and introduces the duke to his beautiful model Angela (Wray). The duchess tries to trick Cellini into romancing her, but he escapes from the palace with Angela, now fond of Alessandro. Later, the goldsmith sneaks back into the palace and romances the duchess, but he's caught and sentenced to be tortured. Again the duchess arranges his release, but when Alessandro falsely tells her Angela is Cellini's fiancee, the duchess decides to poison the goldsmith. He switches glasses with the scheming Ottaviano (Calhern), then feigns death until the duchess confesses her love and Ottaviano drops dead. Alessandro is furious until Angela is sweet to him, so he and she take the summer palace, and the duchess and Cellini depart for the winter palace.