Resolution of singularities of surfaces by P. Del Pezzo. A mathematical controversy with C. Segre (Q1203021)

This paper is a detailed analysis of a series of papers by Del Pezzo on the resolution of singularities of an algebraic surface using a birational transformation. Del Pezzo's papers on this subject, beginning with an 1888 paper on this subject in the \textit{Rendiconti del Circolo Matematico di Palermo} provoked objections from C. Segre, leading to an acrimonious controversy. The author finds some illuminating remarks in this controversy, and concludes that despite some gaps in the reasoning, Del Pezzo made a valuable contribution to the subject.