The Incredible Influence of the Medici Family on Art
By: Liberty Ann
Tags: Europe, Religion, Christianity, History, Art

The Incredible Influence of the Medici Family on Art

Our world in pictures

The Last Supper | Image source

It’s near impossible to imagine a world without the art works of Botticelli, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. If it wasn’t for the Medici’s generous patronage and encouragement during the High Renaissance (14th-15th century), many landmark depictions of beauty and devotion would’ve never come to fruition.

Humble beginnings

The patriarch that gave origin to the family was Giovanni de’ Medici. Born in Florence, Italy, in 1360, he was the son of a wool merchant. Giovanni absolutely did not want to end up like his father, who died without much to his name. Instead of becoming a merchant, he became an apprentice to his distant uncle, Vieri de’ Medici, who owned a chain of banks.

The dowry he received from his marriage enabled him to take advantage of his uncle’s diminishing prominence, and, in 1397, he bought out all of Vieri’s banks. The family went on to establish more financial institutions in areas such as London and Milan. Along with their namesake banks, the Medici dynasty expanded to wool factories, traded commodities such as silk and spices, and delved heavily into politics.

When Giovanni died in 1429, his lifelong ambitions were fulfilled as the family’s finances were in excellent shape when his son, Cosimo the Elder, took over. Around this time, the family became the wealthiest in all of Florence.

An admirer of the arts

A good fraction of the family’s fortune was spent on commissioning works of art, whether it was for their home, public display, or devotion for the church. At the forefront of the family’s patronage and influence throughout their reign during the Italian Renaissance was Lorenzo the Magnificent, the great-grandson of Giovanni.

The Birth of Venus | Image source

Sandro Botticelli

Botticelli was one of the favored artists that the Medicis’ sponsored. He was welcomed freely within their home (which included its own art studio) and attentively listened as well as engaged in intelligent, philosophical conversation among the nobles— many of which would spark inspiration for his works.

With the family’s utmost support and protection, especially for more secular matters, he was able to explore and portray divine subjects that weren’t on strict terms with Christianity — an artistic approach that wasn’t widely supported at the time. The Birth of Venus, in particular, was speculated to have been commissioned by the family circa 1485–1486. The painting itself was kept secret due to its controversial nature as there aren’t any recollections of its existence before the 1550s.

Leonardo Da Vinci

The workshop in Florence that housed Da Vinci and his mentor, Verrocchio, frequently produced all kinds of work, thanks to the Medici’s sponsorship. By the 1480s, Da Vinci grew bored of the city and turned to Lorenzo for guidance. He wanted to delve more into scientific subjects rather than painting all the time.

With Lorenzo’s blessing and recommendation, the artist was sent to work for the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza. Once there, he was given many positions, such as an engineer and an architect. Although it was against Da Vinci’s original intentions, he was still a purveyor of the arts and was commissioned by the Duke to create the most famous depiction of Jesus and his twelve disciples, The Last Supper, between 1495–1498.

The Last Judgement | Image source

Michelangelo Buonarroti

A charming young Michelangelo caught the eye of Lorenzo. The artist would be invited to hone his talents under the Medici household. He briefly lived alongside the family’s children, two of whom would go on to become Popes (Pope Leo X and Pope Clement VII).

Lorenzo the Magnificent’s death in 1492 incited political and religious upheaval, prompting Michelangelo to return back to his father. He was discouraged from further supporting the family.

His most esteemed sculpture David, completed when he was only twenty-six years old, portrays David’s biblical triumph over Goliath. The statue was also said to symbolize the incomparable freedom of the Republic over other impositions — an indirect reference to the Medici family’s gradual decline in influence after Lorenzo’s passing. In 1536, Michelangelo was commissioned to paint The Last Judgement on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel by Pope Clement VII (also known to be his childhood friend, Giulio de’ Medici).