In a contest of skill, Zeuxis painted some grapes so admirably that birds flew at them, thinking them real fruit, and tried to eat them.
Confident of success, Zeuxis said to his rival, Parrhasios of Ephesus, “Now let Parrhasios draw aside his curtain, and show us his production.” “You behold it already,” replied Parrhasios, “and have mistaken it for real drapery.” Whereupon the prize was awarded to him, for Zeuxis had deceived the birds, but Parrhasios had deceived Zeuxis.
Zeuxis died of laughter at the sight of an old woman which he had just depicted.