Peter Paul Rubens quotes:

White is poison to a picture: use it only in highlights.

I'm just a simple man standing alone with my old brushes, asking God for inspiration.

As to the 'St. Michael,' the subject is very fine, but very difficult, so I doubt that I shall find easily amongst my pupils one capable of carrying it out satisfactorily even after my own drawing. In any case, it will be necessary for me to touch it up carefully with my own hand.

My talent is such that no undertaking, however vast in size... has ever surpassed my courage.

Every child has the spirit of creation. The rubbish of life often exterminates the spirit through plague and a souls own wretchedness.

I paint a woman's big rounded buttocks so that I want to reach out and stroke the dimpled flesh.

My passion comes from the heavens, not from earthly musings

Painting a young maiden is similar to cavorting with great abandon. It is the finest refreshment.