The Influence of the Medici Essays

The Influence of the Medici Essays The Influence of the Medici Essay The Influence of the Medici Essay In this paper I will argue that the Medici family had an influence on the art produced during the Renaissance Era. The Medici family managed to become the chief patrons of the era, going from merchant class to bankers and eventually politicians. Many of Florence’s most recognizable buildings and features exist due to the influence of the Medici. Between 1300 and 1600 the Western world was transformed. An extraordinary wave of artistic and cultural innovation shattered medieval society and brought European culture reluctantly into the modern era. This was the Renaissance. Artists discovered how to paint in the third dimension, bringing new life and realism to their subjects. Breaking away from the religious traditions of the medieval world, they created entirely new genres of art, rich emotion. Radical new techniques were invented, such as painting with oils, and perspective. Artists such as, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello transformed the way we saw our world. The House of Medici or de Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house. It first began to gain prominence under the man Cosimo de Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. Gradually the family made money through illegal loaning, they were able to found the Medici Bank and rise in social ranking. The bank was the largest, most prosperous and respected institution in Europe during the 15th century. The Medici also gained political power in Florence; though officially they remained simply citizens. The Medici produced four Popes of the Catholic Church and in 1531 the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence[1]. From this, they acquired political power initially in Florence and later in wider in Italy. Since they were able to bring Florence under their familys power, this allowed for an environment where art and humanism could flourish. Also, by establishing several major institutions for artistic production and instruction they fostered the birth of the Italian Renaissance. The ways in which the Medici had an effect on culture was through sponsorship of art and architecture. The Medici was responsible for the majority of Florentine art during their reign. Their money was significant because during this period, artists generally only crafts their works when they received commissions in advance, and simply the fact that they could buy whomever’s art they wanted. Giovanni di Bicci de Medici, the first patron of the arts in the family, commissioned Brunelleschi for the reconstruction of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence in 1419. The Basilica of San Lorenzo is one of the largest and oldest churches of Italy[2]. It is placed in the city’s main market district, and the burial place to members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III. For three hundred years it was the citys cathedral. One can only imagine how people were influenced by the style of architecture and art displayed by the Basilica. This form of architectural propaganda was used for promotion of themselves, their status, and of their religion. The most significant addition to the list over the years was Michaelangelo. He produced work for a number of Medici, beginning with Lorenzo the Magnificent. Lorenzo was said to be extremely fond of the young Michelangelo, inviting him to study the family collection of antique sculpture[3]. Lorenzo served as patron to Leonardo da Vinci for seven years. His support of the arts is seen as a high point in Medici patronage. Celebrated during his lifetime for his extraordinary talent as a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet, Michelangelo inspired subsequent Florentine artists and attracted the citys most powerful patrons. The Medici grand dukes patronage allowed art in all ways to flourish. In addition to commissioning portraits and decorative objects for their private enjoyment and public display, the Medici family ordered the reconstruction and renovation of numerous civic buildings and private residences. In 1505 Michelangelo was invited to Rome by the newly elected Pope Julius II, commissioning him to build the Popes tomb. Under the patronage of the Pope, Michelangelo had to constantly stop work on the tomb in order to accomplish numerous other tasks. Because of these interruptions, Michelangelo worked on the tomb for 40 years. During that same period, Michelangelo took the commission to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which took him approximately four years to complete[4]. In 1513 Pope Julius II died. His successor Pope Leo X, also a Medici, commissioned Michelangelo to reconstruct the facade of the basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence. He was to adorn it with sculptures Michelangelo and the Medici grand dukes, an intellectual curiosity and an awareness of the power of images, shaped the artistic, political, and cultural identity of Renaissance Florence. [5] Michelangelo designed the Medici Chapel was told to use his own discretion to create. The Medici Chapel has monuments inside dedicated to certain members of the Medici family. Michelangelo never finished the project, so his pupils later completed it. Lorenzo the Magnificent was buried at the entrance wall of the Medici Chapel. It is not known how Donatello and Cosimo de Medici became friends1. Having a keen eye, Donatello was consulted on the quality of the antiques and texts rescued by Cosimo and his friends. In 1419, Cosimo nominated Donatello to sculpt a tomb for the dead pirate pope, Baldassare Cossa, which would be placed inside the Baptistry. Cosimo and his father provided the funding and Donatello cast a bronze likeness of the pope. With Cosimos help, Donatello built a reputation for realism. In 1434, following his triumph over the enemies of the Medici, Cosimo requested a special commission from his friend. Donatellos bronze â€Å"David† broke all the rules. A playful, sensuous, and androgynous hero, David, was the first life size nude to be cast in bronze since Classical times. To create such a homoerotic hero could have been dangerous for Donatello without the support of the Medici. Cosimo placed the statue in the center of the courtyard of the Medici Palace where it was visible to all. [6] Later, in Rome, the Medici Popes continued in the family tradition of patronizing artists. Pope Leo X commissioned works from Raphael. Born Raffaele Sanzio in 1483, Raphael came to prominence at the court of Pope Julius II, whose portrait he painted in 1512. As a boy, Raphael spent his days studying the works of the great masters like Leonardo and Michelangelo. Raphael was given commission to decorate the most private chambers in the Vatican, the rooms of the Pope. The biggest opportunity of Raphaels life brought him into direct interaction with one of his childhood idols. Down the hall, Michelangelo was engaged in one of the greatest solo projects of the Renaissance, the painting of the Sistine chapel. When Giovanni de Medici was elected Pope Leo X, he found Raphael easier to work with than the demanding Michelangelo. Raphael painted a portrait of the new Pope with his cousin, Giulio de Medici, and designed several magnificent buildings under their patronage. One of the most famous artists in the world, Leonardo de Vinci, was taken care of by Lorenzo de Medici. Leonardo was more than just an artist. It is argued that no man has ever studied more subjects or generated more ideas, than Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo, like thousands of talented boys, was drawn to Florence. He was soon employed by Verrochio, whose busy workshop served many powerful families, predominantly the Medici. Even as an apprentice, Leonardos talent was hard to ignore. His contribution to the â€Å"Baptism of Christ† was so vivid, it was said that Verrochio threatened to give up painting. Lorenzo de’ Medici saw the talent in the young boy and immediately took him under his wing. Leonardo was experimenting with oils, a radical technique previously known only in the Northern Europe. Traditionally, Italian artists had painted with tempera (pigment mixed with egg), which dried quickly, often cracked, and was considerably messy. By mixing a pigment with oil, Leonardo discovered a more versatile color, which could be built up in layers to add depth, tone, or even to cover mistakes. It was the start of an artistic revolution. Leonardo soon had come to outgrow Florence. He approached Lorenzo de Medici for help. Lorenzo referred him to his friend, the Duke of Milan, whose needs were more practical than artistic. This suited Leonardo perfectly, as he had surpassed the need for just a studio and was desperate to build his inventions[7]. Once in Milan, he couldnt resist a commission that became the most famous fresco in history, â€Å"The Last Supper. †[8] Without the aid of the Medici, Leonardo da Vinci may not have been pushed into a cerain direction as an artist or inventor. The political, social and religious actions made by the Medici have affected art history. The Medici family usage of allocating their money into art has especially affected the art produced in the Renaissance Era. By commissioning whatever artist they found to be the best at the time, they funded some of the most influential and beautiful artistic creations ever made.