, when
Fra Filippo Lippi was painting in Florence, there lived in Venice a
certain Jacopo Bellini, who was a painter, and who had two sons called
Gentile and Giovanni. The father taught his boys with great care, and
gave them the best training he could, for he was anxious that his sons
should become great painters. He saw that they were both clever and
quick to learn, and he hoped great things of them.

'Never do less than your very best,' he would say, as he taught the
boys how to draw and use their colours. 'See how the Tuscan artists
strive with one another, each desiring to do most honour to their city
of Florence. So, Gentile, I would have thee also strive to be great;
and thou, Giovanni, endeavour to be even greater than thy brother.'

But though the boys were thus taught to try and outdo each other, still
they were always the best of friends, and there was never any unkind
rivalry between them.

Gentile, the eldest, was fond of painting story pictures, which told
the history of Venice, and showed the magnificent doges, and nobles,
and people of the city, dressed in their rich robes. The Venetians
loved pictures which showed forth the glory of their city, and very
soon Gentile was invited to paint the walls of the Ducal Palace with
his historical pictures.

Now Venice carried on a great trade with her ships, which sailed to
many foreign lands. These ships, loaded with merchandise, touched at
different ports, and the merchants sold their goods or took in exchange
other things which they brought back to Venice. It happened that one of
the ships which set sail for Turkey had on board among other things
several pictures painted by Giovanni Bellini. These were shown to the
Sultan of Turkey, who had never seen a picture before, and he was
amazed and delighted beyond words. His religion forbade the making of
pictures, but he paid no attention now to that law, but sent a
messenger to Venice praying that the painter Bellini might come to him
at once.

The rulers of Venice were unwilling to spare Giovanni just then, but
they allowed Gentile to go, as his work at the Ducal Palace was
finished.

So Gentile took his canvases and paints, and, setting sail in one of
the merchant ships, soon arrived at the court of the Grand Turk.

He was received with every honour, and nothing was thought too good for
this wonderful painter, who could make pictures which looked like
living men. The Sultan loaded him with gifts and favou