By means of three torches, which illuminate his nature studies, namely observation, sensuality and reason, he reproduces appearances that make us dream, simple things that touch our hearts, places that astonish and terrify us by their bold silhouettes (...). A perfect artist is who selects from nature with the finest taste. Once it was: to reproduce nature, Today it is: to select from nature.
C. Nègre, La Lumière, Paris 1851