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

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

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

When you first commence painting everything is a muddle. Even the commonest colors seem to have the devil in them.

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.

I taught in the Academy from the opening of the schools until I was turned out, a period much longer than I should have permitted myself to remain there. My honors are misunderstanding, persecution and neglect, enhanced because unsought.

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.