"EL GRECO" (Dominico Theotocopuli) (1545?-1614?) ERA VINCENTIO ANASTAGI, GOVERNOR OF CITTA VECCHIA DURIG THE SIEGE OF MALTA Canvas, 493/4 inches by 74 inches

THE fine full-length portrait of Vincentio Anastagi, in a steel cuirass, green velvet breeches and white hose, one of the stout knights of St. John, who kept the outpost of Christendom against the Turk with the Grandmaster Giovanni di Valetta, is probably the best specimen of El Greco's pencil in England."- Quoted from Stirling's Annals of Artists of Spain, I., 357 The first authenticated portrait by El Greco, with its unmistakable signature in Greek characters, is said by Mr. Henneker-Heaton to be that of the artisit's fellow-countryman and patron, Julio Clovio. Mr. Heaton says that "next comes a portrait of Vincentio Anastahi, " the present painting. In his Handbook of Paintings, Sir Edumund Head describes this as "a very singular portraits," "thoroughly Venetian in its character"-a suggestion borne out by the long Italian inscription which it bears on a pedestal, and which sets forth the various commands of Anastagi during the stirring times in which he lived. The portrait was known to art students in early times, but was lost sight of for a time. Henniker Heaton refers to "Stirling's mention of the painting, but says "its present where-abouts cannot be traced." Later, Sir Edmund Head (Hand-book of paintings, II. 83) notes that it "has lately been brought to England by Mr. Conyngham, " and from him it passed into the possession of the late Baron Taunton. It is mentioned or described in several other works than those cited. 75 GE