The Renaissance period witnessed a shift in the patronage of the arts from the Church to various secular groups such as private families and governments (Buci-Glucksmann, 2016). This change in patronage had a profound impact on the arts in the 15th-18th centuries. In this paper, I will explore the effects of this new diversity in patrons on the arts during this period, while highlighting some specific examples of works commissioned by these new patrons. One of the significant impacts of the new diversity in patrons was the freedom it provided to artists to explore different artistic styles and themes. Unlike the Church, which often placed restrictions on the type of art that could be produced, the new patrons allowed artists to create works that were innovative and experimental. For instance, the famous painting, "Mona Lisa," was commissioned by a wealthy Florentine merchant, Francesco del Giocondo, who gave Leonardo da Vinci the freedom to paint whatever he desired (Pater, 2019). As a result, da Vinci was able to create a painting that has become one of the most recognizable works of art in history. …show more content…
With more patrons to choose from, artists had to work harder to produce high-quality art that would attract the attention of these patrons. This led to the development of new techniques and styles, as artists sought to differentiate themselves from their peers. An excellent example of this is the competition between Gianlorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini to design the baldachin over the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome (Spike, 2017). Both artists produced stunning works of art, but Bernini's design was ultimately chosen and remains one of the most significant works of the Baroque