The history of patronage

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A patron is someone who financially supports a given cause or person. The phrase "patron of the arts" persists today, as patronage is historically linked to individuals and groups sponsoring artists. 

Historically, people in positions of power like kings and queens funded all types of visual artists to outfit their homes, cities, and important buildings like churches and town halls. If you were an artist and had a powerful patron, your financial security was all but guaranteed. In the Italian Renaissance, patrons either took on artists and commissioned them work-by-work, or they fully took them into their estates and provided them with housing while the artist was “on-call” for all art needs. Depending on the scale of a project, an artist could be funded by patrons for years. 

Patronage didn’t just create job security, it made artists visible and notable in new ways. Some artists worked exclusively for their patrons while others were commissioned by new patrons as their work gained public exposure. Some of history's most famous artists made their mark through their patron’s commissioned works. 

As the system of patronage grew in popularity, artists were more highly regarded in society. Artists were now viewed as people with inspiration and not just as artisans and masons who worked mostly for function. The appreciation of art as aesthetic and valuing the creator of a work continues to shape how we view artists today, as people possessing unique skills that warrant respect, admiration, and payment. 

How an artist works with their clients, today and in the past, is key to creating repeat business and relationships  that mirror the commitment of past patrons to their artists. 

Patronage allows you to feel like you are part of the work by cultivating a personal relationship with the artist.