The secret of art is to correct nature.

Painting requires continuous thought and tireless labor.

Few, but ripe.

-- Carl Friedrich Gauss

For truly art lies hidden in nature; whoever can draw it out possesses it.

-- Albrecht Dürer

To paint a beautiful woman I would need to see many, but since beautiful women are scarce, I make use of a certain idea that comes to my mind.

-- Raphael

Painting is poetry that is seen and not heard, and poetry is painting that is heard and not seen.

-- Leonardo da Vinci

I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.

-- Michelangelo

In my opinion, there is nothing which cannot be improved.

-- Peter Paul Rubens