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.Andthewriter,asifunwillingtowoundthesusceptibilitiesofhisreaders,hastakencaretohurlcontemptattheonlycharacterwhosefamilywasdistinctlynotrespectable.
Beforemakingmybow,andleavingthereaderwithFilippoBrandolini,Iwilldescribehisappearance,showninaportraitpaintedinthesameyear,1488,andtillthebeginningofthiscenturyinthepossessionofmyfamily,whenitwassold,withmanyotherworksofart,totravellersinItaly.Mywifehassucceededinbuyingbacktheportraitsofseveralofmyancestors,butthisparticularoneisinthecollectionofanEnglishnobleman,whohasrefusedtopartwithit,thoughkindlyallowingacopytobemade,whichnowhangsintheplaceformerlyoccupiedbytheoriginal.
Itrepresentsamiddle-sizedman,slimandgraceful,withasmallblackbeardandmoustacheanovalface,olivecoloured,andfromhisfinedarkeyesheislookingstraightoutintotheworldwithanexpressionofcompletehappiness.Itwaspaintedsoonafterhismarriage.Heisdressedinthecostumeoftheperiod,andholdsarollofparchmentinhishand.Atthetoprighthandcornerarethedateandthearmsofthefamilyoragriffinrampant.Gules.Crest:ademiswanissuingfromacoronet.Themotto:Felicitas.