Cellini suggests that genuine artistic drive involves a perpetual striving for perfection, never resting on past achievements. This indicates a constant desire for improvement and a critical self-evaluation in the creative process.
Quote by Benvenuto Cellini: “A true artist is never satisfied with his work.”
A true artist is never satisfied with his work.
Insight
Historical Context
Though written over several years, Cellini's autobiography was completed around 1566. This quote reflects the intense drive for excellence characteristic of many Renaissance masters, who pushed boundaries and constantly refined their craft, often driven by fierce competition.
About the Author
Italian Renaissance goldsmith, sculptor, and writer whose autobiography is one of the most vivid and colourful self-portraits of any artist of the period. His bronze sculpture Perseus with the Head of Medusa, completed in 1554, stands in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence.
View all quotes by Benvenuto Cellini