Two Great Painters by James Baldwin

There was once a painter whose name was Zeuxis. [Footnote: Zeuxis
(_pro_. zuke'sis).] He could paint pictures so life-like that they were
mistaken for the real things which they represented.

At one time he painted the picture of some fruit which was so real
that the birds flew down and pecked at it. This made him very proud
of his skill.

"I am the only man in the world who can paint a picture so true to
life," he said.

There was another famous artist whose name was Parrhasius. [Footnote:
Parrhasius (_pro_. pa ra'shl us).] When he heard of the boast which
Zeuxis had made, he said to himself, "I will see what I can do."

So he painted a beautiful picture which seemed to be covered with a
curtain. Then he invited Zeuxis to come and see it.

Zeuxis looked at it closely. "Draw the curtain aside and show us the
picture," he said.

Parrhasius laughed and answered, "The curtain is the picture."

"Well," said Zeuxis, "you have beaten me this time, and I shall boast
no more. I deceived only the birds, but you have deceived me, a
painter."

Some time after this, Zeuxis painted another wonderful picture. It was
that of a boy carrying a basket of ripe red cherries. When he hung
this painting outside of his door, some birds flew down and tried to
carry the cherries away.

"Ah! this picture is a failure," he said. "For if the boy had been as
well painted as the cherries, the birds would have been afraid to come
near him."

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What Did You Learn Here ???

Here Is What My Friend Have Learned ...

oh,,well,,,i realised that three things,,,
firstly,both of the painters r v clever in own way,,,(like everybody in this world r worth 4 something,,,&,everyone has their own value).
secondly,two different painters with different characters,,,,,the first painter,zeuxis was v proud of his skills n v boastful,,according 2 saying that i m the best painter,,,,,(no one could b the best,,,,,,,apart frm Buddha) thats wat i believe,,,but even buddha never said that himself,,i m the best in the world,,,,
the second painter,parrhasius,who is v clever but never menetion that i m the best or so ,,,,n he gave a lesson 2 that boastful 1so i think the second painter has higher IQ n knows how 2 live in life,
However, in the last,zeuxis accepted the truth,,,,,he himself is a great painter too and he is to be respect more for his actions like he dare to admit his mistake and he admire or give respect to whom he should ...