A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world.

A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world.

The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.

The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.

The defining function of the artist is to cherish consciousness.

The defining function of the artist is to cherish consciousness.

To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.

To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.

Nature is inside art as its content, not outside as its model.

Nature is inside art as its content, not outside as its model.

I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt read more

I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt like de Kooning, who was asked to comment on a certain abstract painting, and answered in the negative. He was then told it was the work of a celebrated monkey. 'That's different. For a monkey, it's terrific.' - "London Magazine", March, 1967.

Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and read more

Art is an absolute mistress; she will not be coquetted with or slighted; she requires the most entire self-devotion, and she repays with grand triumphs.

Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather, and exposing them to the critic.

Painting, n.: The art of protecting flat surfaces from the weather, and exposing them to the critic.

The fact that writers will go through so much to remain writers says something, perhaps everything. It would be far read more

The fact that writers will go through so much to remain writers says something, perhaps everything. It would be far easier (and nearly always more profitable) to become a real estate agent.