Frederic Leighton to James McNeill Whistler: 'My dear Whistler, you leave your pictures in such a sketchy, unfinished state. Why don't you ever finish them?' James McNeill Whistler to Frederic Leighton: 'My dear Leighton, why do you ever begin yours? — James Whistler Copy Share Image
A student of James McNeill Whistler tells the great artist, 'I tend to paint what I see.' Whistler replies, 'Ah! The shock will come when you see what you paint! — James Whistler Copy Share Image
Nature is very rarely right, to such an extent even, that it might almost be said that nature is usually wrong... — James Whistler Copy Share Image
I always ask at once, 'Do you drink?' and if she says 'No,' I bow politely and say I am sorry but I fear… — James Whistler Copy Share Image
Art is a goddess of dainty thought, reticent of habit, abjuring all obtrusiveness, purposing in no way to better others. She is, withal selfishly… — James Whistler Copy Share Image
To say of a picture, as is often said in its praise, that it shows great and earnest labour, is to say that it… — James Whistler Copy Share Image
I can't tell you if genius is hereditary, because heaven has granted me no offspring. — James Whistler Copy Share Image
I remember that at one time I always made a drawing before going to bed!! - Of myself I mean - though I finally… — James Whistler Copy Share Image
You shouldn't say it is not good. You should say, you do not like it; and then, you know, you're perfectly safe. — James Whistler Copy Share Image
