V. POETIC FUNCTIONS OF THE REFERENCES TO PAINTING.--Many references to painters or painting are used for comparisons, just as in the case of other arts. Such is the one in _Pauline_, in which the poet describes the Andromeda of Caravaggio, and contrasts her to his own changing soul; and also the comparison in _Sordello_, of the hero to the same picture. A third mention of Andromeda, in _Francis Furini_, illustrates the beauty of the nude art. The painter of Andromeda, Polidoro da Caravaggio, is introduced in _Waring_, in a far from serious comparison, in which Browning wonders if his long-silent friend is splashing in painting “as none splashed before, Since great Caldara Polidore.” In _Pippa Passes_, the Bishop compares one artist with another, by expressing the hope that Jules will found a school like that of Correggio. _In Three Days_ includes a comparison of the lights and shades of a woman’s hair to painting, with the line, “As early Art embrowns the gold.” _Any Wife to Any Husband_ compares the husband who greatly admires other beautiful women, with anyone who looks at Titian’s Venus--“Once more what is there to chide?” Passages in _Bishop Blougram’s Apology_ name Correggio’s works and the pictures of Giulio Romano as desirable things to own. The Bishop also states that he keeps his restless unbelief quiet, “like the snake ’neath Michael’s foot,” referring to the well-known painting by Raphael. In _James Lee’s Wife_, the attitude toward an unbeautiful hand is illustrated by the line--“Would Da Vinci turn from you?” One of the most striking examples of the comparison of a person with a picture is found in Part VI of _The Ring and the Book_, where Caponsacchi likens Pompilia to the Madonna of Raphael in innocence. In Part VII, Pompilia compares her deliverer, Caponsacchi, to the picture of St. George. In Part VIII, the speaker who defends Guido reads a description of a man moved by too much grief, and says it fits Guido’s case just as exactly as Maratta’s portraits are like the life. The prosecutor, in Part IX, compares himself in his descriptions of the family of Pompilia, to a painter, carefully planning to paint a ‘Holy Family’. In this connection he names Carlo Maratta, Luca Giordano, Angelo, Raphael, Pietro da Cortona, and Ferri. Four or five other comparisons are found in _The Ring and the Book_, but in general, they are very similar to the ones given above, and little would be gained by enumerating all of them.