Excerpt from The Art Collection of Mr. Alfred Beit at His Residence, 26 Park Lane, London

These words have always been regarded as sulfidmt to establish beyond any doubt, that the picture, which was originally in the Palazzo Torregiani at Florence, is a work of Paolo Veronese. That artist left his native city, Verona, in the year 1555. And subsequently took up his residence in Venice. It is therefore quite possible that he painted in that city a portrait of Alessandro Alberti, who had been banished from Florence. On the whole, however, the picture bears but very little resemblance to the work of this artist. Nor does it correspond with his earlier productions. This is particularly the case as regards his paintings in the Church ofsan Sebastiano in Venice, where he had, about this period. Completed the decoration of the ceiling and pictures for the altar. In opposition to Paolo's generally picturesque colour-effect and treatment, the colour note in this instance is pale yellow, somewhat devoid of expression and blmded if! Rather a hard manner. The drawing, however, is very clear and the execution careful; and in these respects the portrait reminds one of the paintings of Parmegianino or Bronzino, without corresponding exactly to the style of either of these artists. It is, at any rate, from the hand of one of the great Italian masters of the middle of the 15th. Century, but the doubts as to whether it is a genuine Paolo are justified in spite of the signature on the picture. For, apart from other points, even the lettering of Paolo Cagliari's name is different from what we usually find, is somewhat infirm, and suggests that the name migbthave been altered at some later period. Possibly the picture was afterwards restored by a mar: to whom the name of the original artist on the inscription was but little known. And who consequently changed it for-tint of the ferrous Vmetiao painter. Should, however, the inscription prove to be gerrrine, especially as regards the name of the artist, the picture would then represent an early and a very peculiar phase in the development cf Paclo's art.

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