"On the contrary!" exclaimed the baron, "I beg pardon, my dear, real judges always value him highly, and he is greatly sought for by museums. His cartoons when placed at the side of Overbeck's Triumph of Religion in Art lose nothing; on the contrary, that compunction distinguishes his figures."
"But thou canst not compare him with Overbeck!" said Maryan, with indignation.
"I can, I can! I make him equal to Overbeck; and I consider him superior to Fuhrich and Veit—"
"I will give thee Veit, but as to Overbeck, that marvellous melancholy which fills the eyes of his women—"
"It is earthly, earthly, rather than that perfect expression from beyond which is dominant in Steinle's figures. In this regard Steinle is the only man whom we may compare with Fra Angelico—"
"I would rather compare him with Lippo-Mani."
"Perhaps," said the baron, half agreeing, "as Fuhrich, whenever I look at him, reminds me of Buffalmaco."
"And me, of Piero di Cosimo."
"No, no," objected the baron, "Piero di Cosimo in coloring is different from Fuhrich and Buffalmaco."
"I can compare Buffalmaco, to-day, with Rossetti alone."