The Influence And Connections Of The Medici Family During The Renaissance Period In Florence, Italy

John Fowls said that the Renaissance was “in essence the green end of one civilization’s toughest winters” (1969). It couldn’t be more true. The world before Renaissance was dark and full of wars, plagues, poverty. The Renaissance brought beauty, art and humanitarianism to the world. Florence, Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Medici were also influential. The Renaissance’s prosperity was largely due to the Medici.

Although it’s a specific period in history, the Renaissance is more of a social movement than a historical period. The Renaissance was a period that spanned roughly 1400 to 1600. It saw changes and evolution in arts, science, religions, philosophy, and technology (Szalay 2016). The period saw some of the greatest pieces of art such as the Mona Lisa, Stitine Chapel, and Galileo’s telescope. Galileo’s telescope, the printing press, and many other innovations in science and technology. It was possible. It was slowly discarded the belief in progress being opposed to piety, which allowed people to learn and create new ways. Many Europeans were killed by the Black Plague. Those in public office were also affected. The Medici families settled in Florence (Szalay, 2016). They rose to high-ranking positions in the city. The Medici, a prominent family with connections to many families as well as the Catholic Church, were influential throughout the Renaissance period. They were wealthy and avid supporters of the arts for two centuries.

Florence was a centre of wealth in Renaissance Italy. This was partly due to the success in mercantilism as well as its geographical location. The Medici family was another contributor to Florence’s financial success. The Medici own a bank, one in Rome and a bank at Florence. Their bank was founded on the Catholic Church’s financial genius. The Medici Bank collected tithes on behalf of Roman Catholics. Those who failed to pay were subject to excommunication (PBS 2018, PBS). Being associated with Catholic Church allowed the Medici to have high-volume businesses and Papal connections. Their business allowed them to live an extravagant life, was prominent in politics, and provided the funds necessary for the arts. It provided stability for the community. The area was also helped by their business, which brought in business.

During the Renaissance, Florence was home to the Medici family. They were able to make many connections which gave them many advantages due to their social standing. Their bank provided connections that allowed them to contact the Pope and other Catholic Church leaders. This gave the Medici clan an advantage in legislation, policy and government appointments. These advantages were used by the Medici to put family members and friends in prominent or high-ranking positions within the community. This created a system of favors (PBS 2018). These favors were not only used by the Medici to increase their financial and political advantages, but also to support the Renaissance’s artisans.

Many wealthy families supported Renaissance art and commissioned work. Artwork created by an artist was considered a sign that wealth. The Medici were dedicated supporters of artists across their entire history. Cosimo, the patriarchal family member during the Renaissance, commissioned works of Donatello. Lorenzo, his great-grandson, also commissioned works of many famous Renaissance artists, including Botticelli (DailyHistory.org, 2017). The Medici were not just passionate patrons of artists, they were also merchants and philosophers of that time. This culture was characterized by the pursuit of new technologies and improvements in a range of domains.

A second Medici, a critic supporter of arts and instrumental figure, was not surprising. Pope Leo X, formerly known as Giovanni de’ Medici, commissioned a lot of art and architecture by a number of prominent artists. Raphael was his principal artist. His position within the Catholic Catholic Church allowed him to grant the Medici family permission to return Florence to them after a period during which they were exiled (History.com 2018).

The Renaissance was a remarkable time in history. People were challenging religions, science and art boundaries, and they were also discovering valuable information. Families like the Medici would have made this possible. The multifaceted support provided by the Medici family was crucial during the Renaissance. They provided patronage and created a vibrant environment for the Renaissance through their business connections.