Vasari

On the question, that so vexes the minds of art students of the nailing-chairs-to-walls school, 'what is art?' Vasari had this:

Art owes its origin to Nature herself... this beautiful creation, the world, supplied the first model, while the original teacher was that divine intelligence which has not only made us superior to the other animals, but like God Himself, if I may venture to say it.

~