after stating their reasons for questioning the authenticity of the so-called Giotto portrait in the Bargello", " & disposing of the claims of two other portraits contained in MoJ. preserved Florence, they go on Brag. so Very precious (arcai prezioso). other hand, is the portait of allighieri prefixed to Codes 1040 in the Riccardi Library, which contains the minor poemes of Dants, to gether with those of Messer Binds Bonichi, &o which belonged, to judge &e from the arms & the initials, to Paolo di Sacopo Giannotte, who 1430. This portait, which is about half life-sizeis in water colour, & represents the Poct with his characteristic features age of eather more than fort.. it is le This report, as might be infected, provoked long discussion, in whin others, took part. He maintenis that the resemble of the Riccardi portait to that in the Bargello. ( the authenticity of which he upholds in the face of the Evidence adduced by Milanesi). my slight, & from technical considerations he regards it as secuted in the first half of the 15th Century. lip are having to Checcace, however, who carefully compared the Riccardi portait with any seart copy of that in the Bargello, asserts that, if the difference of as ag be taken into consideration, the two resemble rail otter like two du dy of water." "The portrait in the Bargello, he says, lacks the wrinkles of the other, while the colouring is more fresh, the prominence of the tou is leas marked, but the hose, which does not change with adranu years, is identical, as the shape & colour of the syes, & the shape of the skull, which may be distinguished in both portaits." He adds further that the sculptor Dupré was my greatly stucks his the Riccardi portait, which he considered tobe the work of Giotto himsy & that he availed himself of it of it in the medallion which he was com. commemoration of the Centenary celebration Finally, Milaness & Passerini, in a second report issued in reply t their critics, repent that in their opinion tin that of many competent indges, this portait is a my precious work, sxecuted by skilled har probably at the beginning of the 15th Century, & they maintain their preference for it because they consider it to be of sxcellent workman Ship xderived from the earliest sources, valso because it represents the profile of the Poet in meture which is expecially appre priate to a medallion commemorative of the sixth Centenary of his birth. missioned to sxecute in age, Footnote. - In the new Ed. of Vacari Vol. 1. (Sanconi, 1878) p. 413 foll. Milanese repeats his reasons for questioning the authenticity of the so-called Giotto frescoes; in the Bargello; they briefly as follows: 1). Because the fire mentioned by Villani of the Bargello is on having destroyed a great part Feb 28th, 1332, & the repairs consequent upon it, most. 140 tatt hier Subbosed to have been painted by Giotto in |