His power of telling a story by gesture and action is unique in its peculiar simplicity.

There are no ornaments or accessories in his pictures.

The whole force of the artist has been concentrated on rendering the image of the life conceived by him.

Relying on his knowledge of human nature, and seeking only to make his subject intelligible, no painter is more unaffectedly pathetic, more unconsciously majestic.

While under the influence of his genius, we are sincerely glad that the requisite science for clever imitation of landscape and architectural backgrounds was not forthcoming in his age.