Answer to Question 1
The Renaissance saw an explosion of interest in culture and the arts, as a new wealthy class of citizens became patrons. This emerging patronage system contrasted with the older system, which consisted mostly of commissions from the Church and nobility.
These new sponsors (such as the Medici family) associated painting, sculpture and architecture with affluence and prestige, and wished to cultivate a strong legacy. Often, patrons would befriend and sponsor artists themselves who sought to affirm their social status through financial support. Renaissance patronage benefitted both the benefactor and the artist the benefactor could boast the results of patronage, while the artist enjoyed increased visibility and improved social status. This symbiotic relationship created a unique system that allowed great exploration into the arts and sciences, the results of which still benefit us today.
To be sure, however, patrons sought aggrandizement and immortality themselves and their relationship with the artist affected the subject matter of the art. Portraits of affluent society were common under this system, and the results were often generous with visual flattery.
Answer to Question 2
D
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