fra angelico had a brother called benedetto who was also a dominican friar. fra benedetto painted illuminated manuscripts. fra angelico possibly learnt to paint manuscripts as well. the convent of san marco in florence has several manuscript books that he is thought to have painted. he was very busy with other work at the convents where he lived, but he still found time to paint pictures, which very soon became famous. in january and february of 1418, he was paid for paintings that he did in the church of santo stefano del ponte.