Lorenzo the Magnificent, the fifteenth-century patron of art and leader of Florence, Italy, is shown surrounded by an entourage of artists and architects in a seventeenth-century fresco. His position at the center of the image reflects the high social status of those who paid for art and architecture, an act called patronage. In this video, we learn about the practice of patronage in early modern Europe, exploring the role a patron played in the creative process and how patrons benefited from paying for art.

Speaker: Dr. Heather Graham

CHAPTERS

0:00 Meet Lorenzo the Magnificent and his entourage

0:55 What is a patron?

1:15 What can we learn from the term “patron”?

1:40 Lorenzo, power patron of Florence

2:22 Art making before modern supplies

2:47 Art was generally made-to-order

3:06 Celebrating Medici ancestry in art

3:47 Patrons as artistic influencers

4:20 Paying for art was a noble activity

Learn more

Check out our entire glossary of art history: https://www.artsq.org/about-key-terms-ideas-art-history