The big artist .. . keeps a sharp eye on Nature and steals her tools.

I once painted a concert singer and on the chestnut frame I carved the opening bars of Mendelssohn's Rest in the Lord. It was ornamental unobtrusive and to musicians I think it emphasized the expression of the face and pose of the figure.

Enthusiasm for one's goal lessens the disagreeableness of working toward it.

No man, and least of all myself, could ever disentangle the feelings that animated him.

My honors are misunderstanding, pesecution and neglect, enhanced because unsought.

Strain your brain more than your eye... You can copy a thing to a certain limit. Then you must use intellect.

I have never discovered that the nude could be studied in any way except the way I have adopted. All the muscles must be pointed out. To do this all the drapery must be removed.