From the King's Court to Kickstarter: Patronage in the Modern Era

They say that history repeats itself, and art patronage is no different. From emperors, kings, and noblemen to small businesses, large corporations, and the public, art patrons have helped shape our culture and society as a whole. The symbiotic relationship between artist and patron has fluctuated from the hired hand commissioned to entertain royalty, to the entrepreneurial celebrity artist making fortunes creating their own art and charting their own destinies. Prior to the Renaissance, mo...