In 1488, Scuola di Sant Orsola decided to decorate its premises at the monastery of St. John and Paul. Soon after this decision was taken, the brotherhood of Saint Ursula commissioned the Carpaccio cycle from the altar picture and eight large canvases depicting the life of the saint.
Here are two of them: Farewell to the parents, “1495 and Martyrdom and the Death of St. Ursula,” 1490-94. Working on the cycle, the artist was guided by the life of the saint in the form in which it was recorded in the Golden Legend “Jacopo da Voragine.
This book is noteworthy that the lives of the saints are told in it, how could tell stories or stories about the adventures of knights. The narrative of Saint Ursula begins as follows: Once upon a time there was a Christian king in Brittany named Nothus, or Maurus, and he had a daughter named Ursula, so virtuous, wise and beautiful that the glory of her spread everywhere. “
It’s amazing how organically the Carpaccio style blends in with the naive and solemn sound of the life from the Golden Legend. “In telling the story of the Breton princess, the artist falls into sentimentality, does not seek to over-dramatize the events described, but follows St. Ursula on the path that led her to the martyr crown.
Adieu aux parents – Vittorio Carpaccio 
St. Jerome leads to the monastery of the lion by Vittorio Carpaccio 
Arrival of Saint Ursula and pilgrims to Cologne by Vittore Carpaccio 
Adiós a los padres – Vittorio Carpaccio 
The dream of Saint Ursula by Vittorio Carpaccio 
Meeting of Saint Ursula and pilgrims with the Roman Pope Kyriak by Vittore Carpaccio 
Prayer for the Chalice by Vittorio Carpaccio 
Madonna with the Child and John the Baptist by Vittorio Carpaccio