But it could have been neither the execution of the work, nor the immortal beauty of the countenance, which had so suddenly and so vehemently moved me. least of all, could it have been that my fancy, shaken from its half slumber, had mistaken the head for that of a living person. i saw at once that the peculiarities of the design, of the vignetting, and of the frame, must have instantly dispelled such idea—must have prevented even its momentary entertainment. it emphasizes the portrait’s artistry. it emphasizes the narrator’s mistakes. it emphasizes the portrait’s history. it emphasizes the narrator’s denial.

It emphasizes the narrator's denial

Explanation:

that’s the kind of bug henry was; and if we’d a had him along ’stead of our kings, he’d a fooled that town a heap worse than ourn done.”

- "about the claims : -

making a claim is just a fancy way of saying that you're stating your main point.' claims are not just opinions. a claim tells what you think is true about a topic based on your knowledge .

about the country claims : -

a counterclaim is just the opposite of a claim. counterclaims are also provable and supportable by reasons and evidence. not just, 'because i said so.' when you're planning an argument, you need to know what the counterclaim might be so that you can make sure that you disprove it with your reasons and evidence your research." - (catherineroberts)