Thomas Gainsborough

“The colouring of Titian, the grace of Correggio, the purity of design of Raphael, the gusto of Tintoret, the truth of Holbein, the learning of Poussin, are all wanting.”

“We are all going to heaven, and Vandyke is of the company.”

“I'm sick of Portraits, and wish very much to take my Viol-da-Gam and walk off to some sweet Village, where I can paint Landskips and enjoy the fag End of Life in quietness and ease.”

“Shadows are not sharp-cut, and therefore marked with a dark line; but are softened into their surrounding lights.”

“Damn him how various he is.”

“I do not think it would be more ridiculous for a person to put his nose close to the canvas and say the colours smelt offensive, than to say how rough the paint lies.”

“I wish you would recollect that Painting and Pimping are two very different things.”