Beginning with the Renaissance the Church is no longer the only primary patron of the arts.

Private families, governments and other secular (non-religious) groups begin to hire artists with
greater frequency. What effect do you think this new diversity in patrons had on the arts in the
15th-18th centuries? Include some specific examples of works commissioned by these new
patrons.
Well looking back, art was a main way to show wealth of a family. Many families
provided loans to churches especially in Italy for altars and religious pieces as a way to portray
wealth and have a connection to a powerful influence, the church.
The Medici family was an influential part of society and thereby influenced a vast
majority of art. Considering that Italy was not a unified nation during the renaissance period,
patrons were seen as influential partners in the economic and social welfare of the people that
was equal to or more relevant than the church. Art was considered to be a display of social status
and therefore many patrons commissioned public artwork whether it be a painting or sculpture as
a gift for the people to instigate social recognition.
The Sforza family was a lesser known family who were powerful in Milan. The family
grew from a non-noble setting through military acts and became the governing family over Milan
and other northern regions of Italy during the renaissance. This family, like the Medici family
were very invested in arts as well as architectural designs.
There were many powerful patrons of the art that ruled a part of Italy besides the Medici
family. The art commissioned was for different reasons, to show wealth, to gain admiration and
partnerships between other powers of state such as the church which the Medici family achieved,
and once the reformation began, there was art that depicted paganism which was against the
church which was the most powerful influence of state.
Having the new diversity of patrons that was not directly related to the church, the work
commissioned did not have to represent Christian beliefs, they could in fact oppose religious
standards that had ruled the government and public administration for decades.
Some commissions that were made by patrons during this period were:
- The Birth of Venus painted by Botticelli and commissioned by the Medici Family.
This painting was not of a Catholic nature and referred back to paganist beliefs that
were based from mythology.
- The Primavera painted by Botticelli and commissioned by the Medici Family. This
painting used Humanism and Neoplatonism themes which tried to coincide with the
church. Neoplatonic technique was commonly used during the later years during the
renaissance period.
- Judith and Holofernes sculpted by Donatello and commissioned by the Medici
Family. This sculpture was housed in the Medici fountain and held and naturalism
theme which was common for Donatello’s creations. It was said that the original
sculpture depicted the freedom of Florence.
 - The Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci and commissioned by the Sforza
Family. This was a depiction that captured Catholic faith through one of the stages of
Jesus’ life.
References:
Cole, A. (1995). Virtue and Magnificence: Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts. HN Abrams.
Kent, F. W. (2015). Household and lineage in Renaissance Florence: the family life of the
Capponi, Ginori and Rucellai. Princeton University Press.
Schroeder, J. E., & Borgerson, J. L. (2002). Innovations in information technology: Insights from
Italian renaissance art. Consumption, Markets and Culture, 5(2), 153-169.
Strehlke, C. B., Cropper, E., Tucker, M. S., Passeri, I., Sutherlend, K., & Price, B. (2004).
Pontormo, Bronzino, and the Medici: The transformation of the Renaissance portrait in
Florence (p. xv). Philadelphia Museum of Art.