“It's no easy matter to paint a background. I venture to say that the old painters had more difficulty with their grounds than with their figures. You know the story of Vandyke brought to Rubens with this recommendation: 'He already knows how to paint a background.' 'That is more than I can do!' was the reply.” KnowsI CanMatterStoriesEasyCan DoKnow HowFiguresDifficultyPaintBackgroundsPainterVentureRecommendationsRubens Book:William Morris Hunt on painting and drawing Source: William Morris Hunt on painting and drawing
“I don't like persuaded sitters. I never could paint a cat if the cat had any scruples, religious, superstitious, or otherwise, about sitting.” IfsReligiousSittingCatPaintSuperstitiousScruples Book:Hunt Source: Hunt
“I tell you it's no joke to paint a portrait. I wonder that I am not more timid when I begin. I feel almost certain that I can do it. It seems very simple. I don't think of the time that is sure to come when I almost despair, when the whole thing seems hopeless.” ThinkingFeelsI CanWholeSeemsCertainCan DoSimpleWonderDespairJokesPaintHopelessPortraitsI Can Do It Author:William Morris Hunt
