Foto: thetimes.co.uk
Many artists are often disatisfied with their works, no matter what the critics say, and think that a certain painting could have been better. But one of the masters who took this quirk to obsession level was certainly Pierre Bonnard. A perfectionist bordering on mania for art, he would take thing just a little too far. So far as to try - and sometimes succeed - to modify and complete his works when they were already exhibited in museums and galleries. We can only imagine how stressful it was for the poor museum curators.
Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot was a generous soul, and he just couldn't turn someone down. So, he would often accept to sign works made by amateurs, even those who tried in vain to imitate him. And often the result was simply bad art, but it didn't matter to the famous painter. He would sign it, wanting the owner or unknown artist to be able to sell it for a higher price. No wonder there are so many fake Corot works today.
Once upon a time Willem de Kooning was asked by a curious visitor what is the subject of the painting he was working at. Looking simply puzzled at the composition placed on the easel, which certainly didn't ressemble anything yet, de Kooning said: I think I'm painting a lovely scene depicting two yound, beautiful ladies. On the other hand it could just be another landscape.
Caravaggio was certainly one of a kind. He rejected all tradition and all fashions, and he especially hated those who simply were reproducing the art of ancient masters. As the story goes one day he was asked to paint using for model an old Greek statue. It was a common practice at the time of Caravaggio, but he simply looked at the sculpture, then pointed at a group of passersby. What is the use of using the work of others when life is so near us? he said.
