“The painter will produce pictures of little merit if he takes the works of others as his standard.”

“The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.”

“How may paintings have preserved the image of a divine beauty which in its natural manifestation has been rapidly overtaken by time or death. Thus, the work of the painter is nobler than that of nature, its mistress.”

“The human bird shall take his first flight,filling the words with amazement,all writings with his fame,and bringing eternal glory to those whose nest whence he sprang.”

“A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.”

“The worst evil which can befall the artist is that his work should appear good in his own eyes.”

“He who thinks little errs much…”