The painter who draws by practise and judgment of the eye without the use of reason is like the mirror which reproduces within itself all the objects which are set opposite to it without knowledge of the same.

Vitality and beauty are gifts of Nature for those who live according to its laws.

Even the richest soil, if left uncultivated will produce the rankest weeds.

It reflects no great honor on a painter to be able to execute only one thing well -- such as a head, an academy figure, or draperies, animals, landscapes, or the like -- in other words, confining himself to some particular object of study. This is so because there is scarcely a person so devoid of genius as to fail of success if he applies himself earnestly to one branch of study and practices it continually.

Every part is disposed to unite with the whole, that it may thereby escape from its own incompleteness.

All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.

Those who are inspired by a model other than Nature, labor in vain.