Leonardo da Vinci on judging your own work

«When the work stands equal to one’s judgement of it, it is a bad sign for the judgement. When the work surpasses one’s judgement that is worse, as happens to someone who is astonished at having produced such good work, and when the judgement disdains the work this is a perfect sign. If someone with such an attitude is young, without doubt he will become an excellent painter, but will produce few works, although these will be of such quality that men will stop in admiration to contemplate their perfection »

Leonardo da Vinci ( in “Leonardo on painting”, edited by Martin Kemp – Yale NB edition)

Leonardo da Vinci The Virgin and Child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist - Source: Wikimedia

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