Adoration of the Magi (Botticelli, 1475) described by Vasari as "the finest of all that are now extant for its life and vigour"), his sons Piero (the second Magus kneeling in the centre with the red mantle) and Giovanni (the third Magus), and his grandsons Giuliano and Lorenzo. The three Medici portrayed as Magi were all dead at the time the picture was painted, and Florence was effectively ruled by Lorenzo. Whether Botticelli's intimate relations with the Medici brothers allowed the wealthy Gaspare to introduce the portraits of their kinsmen in his altar-piece, or Gaspare was glad for this opportunity to pay a graceful compliment to
Adoration of the Magi (Leonardo) today was put there by Leonardo." As a part of his diagnostic survey on the "Adoration of the Magi", Seracini completed more than 2,400 detailed infrared photographic records of the painting's elaborate underdrawing, and scientific analyses. The new images revealed by the diagnostic techniques used by Seracini were initially made public in 2002 in an interview with "New York Times" reporter Melinda Henneberger. In 2005, nearing the end of his investigation, Seracini gave another interview, this time to "Guardian" reporter John Hooper. Seracini finally published his results in 2006: M. Seracini, "Diagnostic Investigations on the "Adoration of the Magi" by