Medici Family Research Paper

The Medici family commissioned many artists to make art for them. By the family commissioning them it basically made the artist’s name. In the early time of the Medici family when they were just building up their empire commission artists would help them to build their political prestige and their reputation in the community. Initially in the time of Lorenzo Medici the church wanted nothing to do with the Medici family’s art patronage because they believed that the works that they had commissioned were crude or inappropriate due to nudity or sexual scenes. About 70 years later right before Pope Julius died the Medici art patronage was brought into the church when he commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. By Michelangelo being brought into the light of the Catholic Church it opened doors for the Medici family to

The Renaissance period was the period that was referred to as the "the rebirth" of Classical culture. During this era, many Italians believed that they observed the rebirth of antiquity or Greco-roman civilization (334). Throughout this time period, the art that came out was similar to the growth that happened in philosophy, literature, music and science. Renaissance art focused more on humans, the accurate portrayal of the natural world as well as the old architecture of the Romans. The Renaissance art was reflected politically because during this time, the cities were ruled by wealthy families. Families such as the Medici family were extremely powerful and influential during this time (335). In their prime days, the Medici family was considered the most influential money lenders and best bank in Europe (335).

Florence is arguably the starting place of the renaissance. With many different artists there, the Medici Family in control and a very strong trading system, it was a very powerful city-state during the renaissance. During this time, the feudal system was no more. The people in

Cosimo de’ Medici was born on September 27, 1389 in Florence, Italy at the time his family was middle class bankers. At a young age his father Giovanni, introduced his son to the family business of banking. As Cosimo grew older, he took on more duties in the family business and eventually became the head of the bank the family owned. When he was a young man he had an important relationship with the Catholic Church, at this time the Church was the dominant religious faith of Europe, the one most powerful men in Europe was the Pope. Cosimo recognized the important role of the Catholic Church and made a friendship with the Pope. After this relationship the Medici banks were handling most of the Church’s financial accounts. Some

Giovanni De Bicci De Medici: Giovanni established political and financial power of the Medicis and was one of the richest bankers in Italy because he was also the Medici bank founder. Giovanni was the first Medici to really like the looks of art and decorate his house with it and support

During most of the Renaissance in Italy, the Medici family controlled Florence. They were most known for their success in banking and commerce. In these ways they were one of the main reasons for the political development of Florence. They were also known to be one of the biggest patrons of the arts of the time. Giovanni de Medici established in 1397 that Florence would be the Medici’s home. Giovanni was an influential, wealthy citizen, who was also the banker to the papal court. There was even a point in his life that he had even held every political office in Florence. He like most of his family, supported the arts and was a well-known patron. In 1429

Backstory on the Medici in the Renaissance period: It is without a doubt that the Italians were at the forefront of what we know today as the Renaissance period. Central Italy is where the first aspects of the Renaissance period began forming, especially around Tuscany. The revolution quickly spread to Florence, which was home to the Medici, and eventually through the rest of Europe. The Renaissance period can essentially be described as a rediscovery of past items of greatness combined with the forward thinking of the present. Scholars, artists, and the great thinkers of the time embraced the items of greatness and artistic values from olden times and applied a new form of democratic thought to their process.

Lorenzo De’Medici, fabulously wealthy, brilliant statesman and equally brilliant patron of the arts. He was quite possibly the greatest single contributor to the Renaissance and it’s fabulous wealth of art. His and his family’s patronage of the arts, amounting to hundreds of thousands of florins allowed artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo to flourish and thrive, creating some of their greatest works with Medici money. Lorenzo was heir to one of the great fortunes of late medieval Europe, through his family’s ownership of the Medici bank. His grandfather, Cosimo enhanced the bank’s power to its apex and its wealth was declining when Lorenzo came to power, but it was still an immensely wealthy organization. Lorenzo assumed unofficial

Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici founded the Medici bank in 1397 after splitting from his nephew to establish a bank branch in Florence. As the new bank grew and expanded, so did the wealth and power of the Medici family. When Cosimo il Vecchio de’ Medici, Giovanni’s son, took over the banking business in 1434, the increasing economic power of the Medici family allowed them to establish themselves as effective rulers of Florence while keeping the republican system of government nominally intact. The bank provided the Medici family a combination of economic and political power that facilitated the stability of Medici rule. Thus, the failure of the Medici bank during the reign of Lorenzo il Magnifico was key to the collapse of the Medici

The Medici family started their rise to power in the 1200’s as a not very well known middle class family. They were inferior to a multitude of families but eventually grew to be the most important family in Florence and Italy at their peak. The Medici took advantage of the ciompi Rebellion in 1378 when Salvador de Medici tried profiting from the rebellion by attempting to become the layman's leader. In 1393, Giovanni de Medici took ownership of the Roman branch of a bank owned by one of his Florentine cousins. He moved the headquarters of his bank to Florence in 1397, the official founding date for the Medici Bank.

(Medici) In the Florentine republic, where economic power was almost synonymous with political power, achieving this financial feat made way for social distinction. (The Medici)

The House of Medici, or the Medici family, was a very influential and extremely powerful family during the time of the Renaissance in Italy. The Renaissance took place starting in the late 14th century. During this time, the people started to take interest in and have an appreciation for the classical times. The beginning of this powerful family really begins with Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici. He was born in the year 1360 in Florence, Italy. Originally from the Tuscan hillside, the Medici family immigrated to Florence during the 12th century. Giovanni di Bicci deˈ Medici was the man who really got the family moving. He founded the Medici Bank and began using money to gain influence. The Medici Bank eventually became the official bank of

Beginning in Italy, the Renaissance was a time in history that rediscovered the culture of very old Greece and Rome. It was also a time of recovery from the fourteenth century. In comparison with the Renaissance had a more and believing that people should be themselves without trying to be like others, but might best been seen as related to things slowly changing for the better over time in its city-based and commercial constant quality from the High Middle Ages. In the North Sea, the Hanseatic League competed with people who sell things from the Mediterranean, where the Venetians had a commercial empire. In Florence, the money made from the woolen industry were invested in banking. The rich and powerful group of people remained the ruling

The focus of this investigation will be “The Medici family supported the artists of the Renaissance era by providing them financial support, throughout mentorship and because of the prevailing philosophy and humanism.” This investigation will focus on the background of the Medici family and how they supported artists of the Renaissances era. This investigation will use a primary source from an artist's work and a secondary source relating to the Medici family uprising.San Lorenzo (church). Medici chapel. Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici which held Sculptures by Michelangelo and Adrien, De Roover Raymond. The Rise and Decline of the Medici Bank, 1397-1494. Norton Library, 2012.Both sources provide background to the Renaissance time period and how the Medic family treated artists with their power. The two sources are examples of how the Medicis changed the renaissance era through their money and power to pursue artists for their own benefit and for the time periods.

The members of the Medici bank also did their work sitting on benches and behind tables. The first location was in Via dell Arte della Lana, also known as, Wool Guild Street. Since they were confronted with different currencies they took out a commission for the conversion of the currency instead of charging interest. Since no interest was applied, there was no sin. Little by little they started expanding into areas such as Florence, Venice, and Rome. The Medici bank was doing everything right. They soon grew to be a powerful financial unit in