Studying Art in the Center of the Renaissance

        Palazzo Medicci Riccardi Flickr

What influences the creation of art?  Certainly the artist is essential.  Without the artist there would be no art. But the creation of art is more than the artist.  The question is, what influences the artist in terms of their experiences, beliefs, environment and, certainly, financial support?  What I hope to learn as a result of my study of the Renaissance and Baroque periods is a better understanding of these variables.

Florence was the perfect breeding ground for amazing art. This is primarily due to the prosperity of the region. Growing out of feudalism, Florence became one of the leading cities in cloth trade.  As the trade outgrew the bartering system, Florentines began producing currency, known as Denarii. Florence’s production of these silver pennies led to an increase in Florentine wealth and prosperity resulting in wealthy banker families such as the Medici. With this increase in wealth came disposable income and the ability to showcase their prosperity. Patronage became a common practice, out of which came many of Florence’s great artworks.   

The opportunity to live where these great artists created these works will add great insight into their pieces. I will not only be gaining art history theory but the context and economic environment in which they created these masterpieces.