Nature contains the elements, in colour and form, of all pictures, as the keyboard contains the notes of all music. But the artists is born to pick, and choose, and group with science, these elements, that the result may be beautiful - as the musician gathers his notes, and forms his chords, until he brings forth from chaos glorious harmony

I can't tell you if genius is hereditary, because heaven has granted me no offspring.

The masterpiece should appear as the flower to the painter - perfect in its bud as in its bloom - with no reason to explain its presence - no mission to fulfill - a joy to the artist, a delusion to the philanthropist - a puzzle to the botanist - an accident of sentiment and alliteration to the literary man.

To say to the painter that Nature is to be taken as she is, is to say to the player that he may sit on the piano.

Over and over again did the Attorney-General cry out aloud, in the agony of his cause, 'What is to become of painting if the critics withhold their lash?

For art and joy go together, with bold openness, and high head, and ready hand - fearing naught and dreading no exposure.

Art happens-no hovel is safe from it, no prince may depend upon it, the vastest intelligence cannot bring it about.