If you are representing a white body let it be surrounded by ample space, because as white has no colour of its own, it is tinged and altered in some degree by the colour of the objects surrounding it

I abhor the supreme folly of those who blame the disciples of nature in defiance of those masters who were themselves her pupils

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer.

Intellectual passion dries out sensuality.

Thou, O God, dost sell us all good things at the price of labor.

...The world wouldn't be the world, without trouble.

One painter ought never to imitate the manner of any other; because in that case he cannot be called the child of nature, but the grandchild. It is always best to have recourse to nature, which is replete with such abundance of objects, than to the productions of other masters, who learnt everything from her.