--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it is the love of that which your work…" description: "\"If it is the love of that which your work represents--if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and trees that moves you--if, being a figure p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg" --- # If it is the love of that which your work represents--if… ![“If it is the love of that which your work represents--if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and trees that moves you--if, being a figure painter, it is love of human beauty, and human soul that moves you--if, being a flower or animal painter, it is love, and wonder, and delight in…” quote by John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg) > “If it is the love of that which your work represents--if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and trees that moves you--if, being a figure painter, it is love of human beauty, and human soul that moves you--if, being a flower or animal painter, it is love, and wonder, and delight in petal and in limb that move you, then the Spirit is upon you, and the earth is yours, and the fullness thereof.” [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True love for one's craft—whether landscape, figure, or flora—connects the artist to spirit, granting mastery over earth and its fullness. **In simple terms:** Love your work; it links you to deeper purpose and mastery. Key Takeaway Cultivate love and wonder in your artistic practice. Themes art love spirituality mastery Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - painting - art education - personal development - spiritual practice Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy nature human beauty creative inspiration Questions to Reflect On - What role does love play versus necessity in creative work? - How can artists balance passion with livelihood? A Different Perspective The quote idealizes love as the sole driver, overlooking practical constraints like market demand. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Delight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delight/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Fullness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fullness/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Human soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-soul/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Landscape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/landscape/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a painter, that's what I love to do first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chali-2na/i-m-a-painter-that-s-what-i-love-to-do-first-and-foremost/) [Chali 2na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chali-2na/) > [In a perfect world, I would be a painter. I love working with my hands. I don't get to do it as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/in-a-perfect-world-i-would-be-a-painter-i-love-working-with-my-hands/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [Well, something must be done for May, The time is drawing nigh-- To figure in the Catalogue, And woo the public eye. 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But my friends told me I shouldn't -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claes-oldenburg/they-asked-me-to-do-a-show-and-i-was-planning-on-showing-my-figure/) [Claes Oldenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claes-oldenburg/) > [I don't make a lot of distinctions between things like landscape or figure painting, because to me the problems are inherently the same -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-thiebaud/i-don-t-make-a-lot-of-distinctions-between-things-like-landscape-or/) [Wayne Thiebaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-thiebaud/) > [Monet's work would have been even greater if he had not abandoned figure-painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/monet-s-work-would-have-been-even-greater-if-he-had-not-abandoned/) [Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-de-toulouse-lautrec/) > [From the mingled strength of shade and light A new creation rises to my sight, Such heav'nly figures from his pencil flow, So warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/from-the-mingled-strength-of-shade-and-light-a-new-creation-rises-to/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [In 1958 I finally found a large enough apartment on the Lower East Side, where I reverted to figure painting. 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The relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/beauty-is-not-the-goal-of-competitive-sports-but-high-level-sports/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [“« Previous \| 1 \| 2 \| Next » A great deal has been written about human beauty, and I shan’t be saying anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanka-gjuri/previous-1-2-next-a-great-deal-has-been-written-about-human-beauty/) [Stanka Gjurić](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanka-gjuri/) ## More by John Ruskin > [“Occult Theft,--Theft which hides itself even from itself, and is legal, respectable, and cowardly,--corrupts the body and soul of man, to the last fibre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/occult-theft-theft-which-hides-itself-even-from-itself-and-is-legal/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Mighty of heart, mighty of mind, magnanimous-to be this is indeed to be great in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/mighty-of-heart-mighty-of-mind-magnanimous-to-be-this-is-indeed-to-be/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Life is a magic vase filled to the brim, so made that you cannot dip from it nor draw from it; but it overflows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/life-is-a-magic-vase-filled-to-the-brim-so-made-that-you-cannot-dip/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [As in the instances of alchemy, astrology, witchcraft, and other such popular creeds, political economy, has a plausible idea at the root of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/as-in-the-instances-of-alchemy-astrology-witchcraft-and-other-such/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I am far more provoked at being thought foolish by foolish people, than pleased at being thought sensible by sensible people; and the average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/i-am-far-more-provoked-at-being-thought-foolish-by-foolish-people/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [When we build ... let it not be for present delights nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/when-we-build-let-it-not-be-for-present-delights-nor-for-present-use/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is far more difficult to be simple than to be complicated; far more difficult to sacrifice skill and easy execution in the proper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-far-more-difficult-to-be-simple-than-to-be-complicated-far-more/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It is a good and safe rule to sojourn in every place as if you meant to spend your life there, never omitting an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-is-a-good-and-safe-rule-to-sojourn-in-every-place-as-if-you-meant/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [“You may trust to the truth of my sympathy; but you must remember that I am engaged in the investigation of enormous religious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/you-may-trust-to-the-truth-of-my-sympathy-but-you-must-remember-that/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [And remember, child, that nothing is ever done beautifully, which is done in rivalship; or nobly, which is done in pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/and-remember-child-that-nothing-is-ever-done-beautifully-which-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [It’s unwise to pay too much, but it’s worse to pay too little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/it-s-unwise-to-pay-too-much-but-it-s-worse-to-pay-too-little/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The world is full of vulgar Purists, who bring discredit on all selection by the silliness of their choice; and this the more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-world-is-full-of-vulgar-purists-who-bring-discredit-on-all/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Like other beautiful things in this world, its end (that of a shaft) is to be beautiful; and, in proportion to its beauty, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/like-other-beautiful-things-in-this-world-its-end-that-of-a-shaft-is/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [All are to be men of genius in their degree,--rivulets or rivers, it does not matter, so that the souls be clear and pure;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/all-are-to-be-men-of-genius-in-their-degree-rivulets-or-rivers-it/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing...should be taught to every child just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/the-art-of-drawing-which-is-of-more-real-importance-to-the-human-race/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) [Explore all 696 John Ruskin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. 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Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it is the love of that which your work represents--if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and trees that moves you--if, being a figure painter, it is love of human beauty, and human soul that moves you--if, being a flower or animal painter, it is love, and wonder, and delight in petal and in limb that move you, then the Spirit is upon you, and the earth is yours, and the fullness thereof.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Ruskin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-work-represents-if-being-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-work-represents-if-being-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/john-ruskin-314_animal_if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-wor_1910473.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it is the love of that which your work represents--if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and…” — John Ruskin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Ruskin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it is the love of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-work-represents-if-being-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/if-it-is-the-love-of-that-which-your-work-represents-if-being-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```