"This American is a great artist, and the only one of whom America can be justly proud." - On Whistler
"I concern myself with figures and animals. Several genre studies have been done: I approach this realm of art with timidity; I am abashed by the first-class works of earlier artists in the field; I am afraid of failure!"
- from a letter to Théodore Duret, 1874
"It is only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover to your surprise that you have rendered something in its true character."
- Letter to his son Lucien, 21 May 1883
"This American is a great artist, and the only one of whom America can be justly proud."
- On Whistler
"As far as execution is concerned, we regard it as of little importance; art, as we see it does not reside in the execution: originality depends only on the character of the drawing and the vision peculiar to each artist."
"Work at the same time on sky, water, branches, ground, keeping everything going on an equal basis. Don’t be afraid of putting on colour. Paint generously and unhesitatingly, for it is best not to lose the first impression."
"Everything is beautiful, all that matters is to be able to interpret. "
"All the sorrows, all the bitternesses, all the sadnesses, I forget them and ignore them in the joy of working. "
