A Treatise on Painting
by Leonardo da Vinci, translated by John Francis Rigaud
On the Judgment of Painters
4017106A Treatise on Painting — On the Judgment of PaintersJohn Francis RigaudLeonardo da Vinci

Chap. CCCLXIV.On the Judgment of Painters.

When the work is equal to the knowledge and judgment of the painter, it is a bad sign; and when it surpasses the judgment, it is still worse, as is the case with those who wonder at having succeeded so well. But when the judgment surpasses the work, it is a perfectly good sign; and the young painter who possesses that rare disposition, will, no doubt, arrive at great perfection. He will produce few works, but they will be such as to fix the admiration of every beholder.