LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT – A FAMOUS PATRON OF
THE ARTS
LORENZO DI MEDICI WAS BORN IN 1449. HE STARTED TO RULE THE CITY OF
FLORENCE AT A VERY YOUNG AGE OF 20 AND WAS A FAMOUS PATRON OF THE
ARTS DURING THE RENAISSANCE. MEDICI’S FAMILY WERE VERY RICH BANKERS.
THEIR FAMILY LOANED MONEY TO PEOPLE, EVEN KINGS, QUEENS AND POPES.
HE WAS ALSO VERY TALENTED FOR A POET AND ALSO FOR AN ATHLETE. BUT
MAINLY, HE WAS FAMOUS AS A PATRON OF THE ARTS, IN FACT, HE WAS SO FAMOUS
AND TALENTED, THAT HE WAS KNOWN AS LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT.
LORENZO PATRONIZED GREAT ARTISTS. HE PATRONISED A VERY FAMOUS ARTIST
CALLED LEONARDO DA VINCI WHO PAINTED THE MONA LISA. HE PATRONISED
MICHELANGELO WHO HE TREATED LIKE A SON. MICHELANGELO SCULPTED THE
STATUE OF DAVID, AND THAT IS WHAT HE IS MAINLY FAMOUS FOR. HE ALSO
PATRONISED BOTTICELLI. BOTTICELLI PAINTED SEVERAL BEAUTIFUL WORKS ON
CLASSICAL THEMES. THE MOST FAMOUS OF THESE IS THE BIRTH OF VENUS.
LORENZO ALSO EMPLOYED EXPERIENCED PEOPLE TO PURCHASE RARE
MANUSCRIPTS IN THE EAST. THESE MANUSCRIPTS WERE THEN STORED IN
LORENZO’S LIBRARY, WHICH BECAME THE FIRST PUBLIC LIBRARY IN EUROPE.
LORENZO DIED IN 1492. AFTER HIS DEATH, THE MEDICI’S BECAME NOT AS
WEALTHY AS THEY WERE.