If you want to compete in Italy, the only accepted ways are brute force, or cunning. Like Machiavelli says, "Fronte otra forze." And neither of these two "virtues" is suited to an artist. The artist has to stay intelligent. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
I first think of intelligence. You need it for surviving in Italy because Italy is so pompous. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
When you sit for an hour and a half in front of somebody, he or she shows about twenty faces. And so it's this… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
Maybe poets express more directly a sense of sympathy for other human beings. Painting is a little bit more of a retreat from human… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
When I look at a drawing of a person, I look at that person as living. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
There's poetry in the world. Poetry doesn't belong just to the poets. You know, you can look at the most premeditated, cold blooded movie… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
A photograph to me is always a reminder of how the person was on a certain day in that certain light fixed. When I… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
That moment when the person actually dictates the way I do the portrait is when the intimacy arrives. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
It is very scary to think mechanically about someone you know. That means that the second time you meet a person is useless. Which… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
We are not naturally intelligent, or happy. In fact, every day it is harder to remain intelligent. It seems often that people get intelligent… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
Fashion is the pursuit of perfection, Style is the acceptance of one's flaws. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
My portraits are half what I see and the other half is invented or dictated by the person and the painting. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
In India and in New York the economy is naked. People are starving physically in India, and emotionally in New York. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
In my head I am in one of those Buddhist caves where you see a thousand Buddha faces on the wall. In my head… — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
I never paint a portrait from a photograph, because a photograph doesn't give enough information about what the person feels. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
I repeatedly refuse to make any practical decisions. I get a feeling of nausea about practicality. — Francesco Clemente Copy Share Image
