Marsilio Ficino, philosopher, ‘Conceived beauty in the things of this world as God’s means of making himself manifest to humankind. The contemplation and study of beauty in nature – and all things – was a form of worship, a manifestation of the divine or spiritual love….Like erotic love, spiritual love is inspired by beauty, but spiritual love moves beyond the physical to an intellectual plane and, eventually to such an elevated spiritual level that it results in soul’s union with God.’