The Original Sketches For The Fresco Of Guidoriccio Da Fogliano (signed And Dated)

The original sketches for the fresco of Guidoriccio da Fogliano on laid paper (signed and dated). The story of a "troublesome" discovery: ...
It was 11:45 PM when I received a phone call. My eccentric, prank-loving friend—who moved in the circles of Sicily’s most illustrious families—called me, breathless: "Giulio, come to my house right away; I’ve made an incredible discovery." Even though I was already in bed, knowing what my dear Gabriele—the Marchese di Trifiletti—was capable of, I got dressed and rushed over to his place. He opened the door wearing long, Art Nouveau-style underpants and a retired gondolier’s undershirt. He was using the steam from a large pot of boiling water to loosen the binding of a kidskin-covered book; he had already managed to detach about a third of the page. "Look, Giulio, at what’s appeared from inside the book's padding." I could see an encampment and numerous small flags. I recognized a detail from the famous *Guido Riccio da Fogliano* fresco in Siena. He told me firmly, "If you want these two books—one of which hasn't even been opened yet, so its contents remain a mystery—you have to buy them from me right now. You have to accept the risk that there might be other drawings inside, or perhaps only the one we can glimpse. Five million. I don't care how you pay—I trust you—but I’m offering them only to you; otherwise, I’ll never sell them..." To be continued...