These two large paintings by Niccolò Barducci, in tempera on cardboard applied on canvas, are based on the plan drawings of Emilio De Fabris. They provide a perspective view of the future final aspect of the Cathedral façade, designed by De Fabris himself. One shows the tricuspid crowning solution and other the basilica typology. Nearing completion of the façade, these twin paintings were prepared for submission and judgement on the final solution of the crowning of the side aisles. The dispute over this important architectural element had raised strong emotions, leading to conflicts between public opinion, the artists and the rulers of the time, due to the political and ideological implications in these years of the birth of the Kingdom of Italy. In fact the facade with cusps would recall the “foreign” Gothic of the French and Germans. As we can see today, the basilica-type solution desired by De Fabris, also endorsed by illustrious colleagues such as the architect Giovanni Poggi, would win the day.