The Secret of the Old Masters

IN this little book I have undertaken to lay before the reader the fruits of the labor of twenty-five years. As soon as I could understand and appreciate the splendors of the Grand Masters of painting, I had begun to form a determination to discover the technical principles, methods, and material that enabled the Masters to produce their work. Years ago, I never had any real satisfaction when I did paint a fairly good study head, because I felt instinctively that it was in no sense related to the technic of the Masters. Therefore, the search for the Masters’ technic became for me an all-absorbing life work to the exclusion of all else. This life work was more or less an injury and loss to me in many ways. On the other hand, it had many compensating pleasures. I had said to myself in the beginning: " If I can only paint one head with the Old Masters’ technic I shall be satisfied." Had I known how long it would take me to solve the problem, I certainly would not have attempted it, but as the years passed I felt less like giving up than I might have at the beginning.