The Influence Of The Medici Family And Papal Patronage On Italian Renaissance Art

Renaissance is considered to be one of the most important periods in human history. It marked the beginning of an age that produced some of the most significant cultural and artistic accomplishments ever recorded in the human history. This period saw the creation of some of the most remarkable works of artistry by some of the most prominent artists in the history of mankind. It is, however, being argued that the enormous artistic accomplishments of the time would not be possible without the help and guidance of the most influential families as well the Catholic church. Their support of the arts is now commonly referred to as patronage.

The economic growth in the city-states of Italy led to the emergence of a merchant class whose desire was to find its place in the highly stratified structure, Europe inherited from the Middle Age. This period was marked by the adoption of cultural, philosophical and artistic values born in the ancient Greek and Roman societies, which inspired the artists and thinkers across the many city-states of the peninsula. It was the newly formed upper class who offered these artists their support or patronage which was a key factor in their success.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary patronage is “the support or the influence of a patron” or “kindness done with an air of superiority.” In essence, in the context of the researched subject it implies support on a wide spectrum of levels, for the purpose of accomplishing a certain goal. In the Italian societies of the Renaissance period patronage could take different forms. For example, a patron could offer an artist a permanent place in his/her household in return for the works of artistry that would be produced. Or an artist could be hired only for the purpose of creating a single work of art in return for a single or a series of payments. It was not unusual for such a relationship to last many years due to the amount of work and complexity specific to the

Renaissance is considered to be one of the most important periods in human history. It marked the beginning of an age that produced some of the most significant cultural and artistic accomplishments ever recorded in the human history. This period saw the creation of some of the most remarkable works of artistry by some of the most prominent artists in the history of mankind. It is, however, being argued that the enormous artistic accomplishments of the time would not be possible without the help and guidance of the most influential families as well the Catholic church. Their support of the arts is now commonly referred to as patronage.

The economic growth in the city-states of Italy led to the emergence of a merchant class whose desire was to find its place in the highly stratified structure, Europe inherited from the Middle Age. This period was marked by the adoption of cultural, philosophical and artistic values born in the ancient Greek and Roman societies, which inspired the artists and thinkers across the many city-states of the peninsula. It was the newly formed upper class who offered these artists their support or patronage which was a key factor in their success.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary patronage is “the support or the influence of a patron” or “kindness done with an air of superiority.” In essence, in the context of the researched subject it implies support on a wide spectrum of levels, for the purpose of accomplishing a certain goal. In the Italian societies of the Renaissance period patronage could take different forms. For example, a patron could offer an artist a permanent place in his/her household in return for the works of artistry that would be produced. Or an artist could be hired only for the purpose of creating a single work of art in return for a single or a series of payments. It was not unusual for such a relationship to last many years due to the amount of work and complexity specific to the task. Also, besides private individuals, patronage could be offered by entities such as city governments and religious organizations. Known as corporate patronage, it was a way for city councils, guilds and monasteries to commission works of art.

Florence is often considered the birthplace of Renaissance. Located in northern Italy, it was an important economic center with its merchants holding the most political power in the city. Being adepts of the ideas promoted by the civic humanism, which stated that educated elite should partake in public service, many of them contributed to the rebirth of Florence through commissioning numerous works of architecture and art. One of such contributors was Giovanni de Medici who established his residence in Florence in 1397, as a banker to Papal Court. As a wealthy individual, Giovanni had no choice but to participate in the public life of Florence, and, eventually, became known for his support of the local artists. He left behind a significant fortune and a tradition of patronage which was continued by his son, Cosimo. Cosimo de Medici took over family business at the age of forty and, by 1434, was able to significantly strengthen the Medicis’ position in the Florence Republic. He was considered to be the most influential person in Florence at the time, position achieved through the influence he had on his bank debtors, who also served in the city council. Cosimo was raised in the spirit of humanism and, therefore, had a passion for arts and philosophy, and continued his father’s tradition of art sponsorship. For example, the funding provided by the Medicis made the construction of one of the first public libraries in Europe possible. The San Marco library opened its doors in 1444 and had 400 volumes laid across 64 benches. One of the best-known of the Medici commissions is the statue of David created by Donatello in 1469 which is thought to have introduced the idea of nudity in the Renaissance sculpture. Medici’s patronage of a talented goldsmith, Fillipo Bruneleschi, culminated with the completion of the dome on the Florence Cathedral, which helped strengthen Medici’s reputation as the main benefactor of the city (Sayre).

Cosimo’s effort was continued by his grandson Lorenzo when he took over family affairs in 1467. Lorenzo was known as a scholar and a distinguished poet interested in Classical antiquity who became part of the circle which included such renowned poets, artists, and philosophers as Philippo del Mirandello, Boticelli, and Michelangelo (“Social Change and Continuity in Renaissance Europe”). Lorenzo was particularly fascinated by the field of architecture, and despite never becoming a practicing architect his knowledge of the field was deep enough to influence some of the best architects of Florence. For example, he supported and collaborated with Giuliano de Sangallo whom he saw to be able to revive the architectural styles of antique times. His patronage resulted in commissioning of the Augustine Observant Monastery in 1488 in San Gallo whose architect was Giuliano de Sangallo. Lorenzo de Medici’s influence ensured that his favorite artists enjoyed recognition beyond Florence’s borders. For instance, San Gallo was hired to build the church of Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato, and Verocchio, a sculptor and goldsmith, was involved in a project for Pistoia Cathedral in Pistoia, Tuscany (“Lorenzo de’ Medici”).

Perhaps, one of the best-known artists who benefitted from Lorenzo’s support was Michelangelo. Michelangelo was one of Domenico Ghirlandaio’s most talented apprentices when the Medici’s asked the artist for two of his best students. Ghirlandaio picked Michelangelo along with Francesco Granacci. Soon, Michelangelo was invited to live at the Medici’s palace along with his father. The young artist began attending the Humanist academy founded by the Medici, and very soon, his first works saw the light of day: the reliefs “Madonna of the Steps” and “Battle of the Centaurs” (Giraldine).

The idea of artistic patronage was not unique to Florence. In fact, it is often argued that despite the Medici family enormous commitment to supporting the Renaissance artists, it was the Papal states which were the most significant patrons of the arts at that time. The desire to support the arts stemmed from the need to rebuild the city of Rome which fell into the state of disrepair after the great Schism of 1378 when the Papal capital was established in Avignon, France. The return of the church leadership back to the “Eternal City” in many ways, marked the beginning of the Renaissance. One of the most famous works commissioned, was the Sistine Chapel built at the initiative of Pope Sixtus VI. Another pope, Julius II, hired Michelangelo to paint its ceiling, and the Sistine Chapel painting is now regarded as one of the most important Michelangelo’s works. Another pope, Leo X, also known as Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici, is considered the biggest patron of Raphael, a talented painter and sculptor, whose creations can still be found in Vatican. In fact, the pope’s library chambers–Stanza Della Segnatura–are now known as “Raphael rooms” whose walls’ artwork illustrates the best aspects of the human spirit. The most significant works of Raphael include “The Disputation of the Most Holy Sacrament”, “The Sistine Madonna”, “The Marriage of the Virgin” and perhaps, his greatest masterpiece “The School of Athens” a philosophical piece on the walls of the Stanza Della Segnatura which depicts such personalities like Plato, Aristotle, Plato and Euclid (Carrigan).

It can be concluded, that patronage played the decisive role in expanding of the role of arts, philosophy and architecture in the historical period known as Renaissance. It became possible as the result of a revived interest for the humanism among the wealthy class and the religious leadership coupled with the desire to strengthen the positions within the societies, they existed in. The Renaissance had at its basis ancient Roman and Greek culture, enormous amounts of knowledge preserved in the papal libraries, but also great amounts of surplus wealth which the artists of these period came to benefit from. The importance of such wealth allocation resides in the fact that it greatly altered the course of history and ushered the Western civilization into an era of enlightenment which replaced the ignorance of the Dark Ages.