What did the Medici family do for the Renaissance?

The Medici family's extraordinary patronage of art in Florence, it's a story that fundamentally shaped the Renaissance and left a massive legacy.

Here's a breakdown, covering their history, motivations, key figures, notable artists and the impact of their support.

Michelangelo Buonarroti | Tomb of Lorenzo de' Medici, 1524-1527

Donatello | The bronze David, 1440

David is the title of two statues of the biblical hero by the Italian early Renaissance sculptor Donatello, an early work in marble of a clothed figure (1408-09), and a far more famous bronze figure and dates to the 1430s or later. Both are now in the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence.

The Story of Music: A Chronicle of Resonance

The impulse began, as all things do, from a foundational state of near-silence.

Not a void, mind you. A state of potential.

A world teeming with vibration, but lacking organization.

Consider the cave: a resonating chamber.

Water dripping, wind sighing… these were the first notes.

Not "music" as we understand it, but precursors.

The potential for pattern was always present.

Orazio Gentileschi | Young Woman with a Violin (Saint Cecilia), 1612 | Detroit Institute of Arts

August Macke: "The most important thing for me is the direct observation of nature in its light-filled existence"

• "I'm interested in creating a space through color contrasts, rather than by simple shadows of light and dark".

• "Mi interessa creare uno spazio attraverso contrasti di colore, piuttosto che attraverso semplici ombre di luce e buio".

August Macke | Promenade, 1913

Promenade is an oil-on-cardboard painting by the German artist August Macke (1887-1914), executed in 1913.

It is held at the Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus in Munich.

Chronologically, it is the first of the paintings that he created after moving to Hilterfingen in Switzerland.

Francois Fressinier, 1968 | Mixed media painter

Born in Cognac, France to scholarly portrait photographer parents with an affinity for aesthetics, it was fitting that modern figurative artist, François Fressinier, would develop a unique, enchanting style.

His father's admiration for the works of the Old Masters and his exposure to some of the world's most historic places, along with France's Gallo-Roman ruins and Gothic churches inclined François to explore and create figurative, symbolic artwork.

In addition, his education at the Ecole Brassart in Tours afforded him the opportunity to study the drawings and paintings of old and new masters.

Platone | The Arts in education

The Republic (Greek: Πολιτεία, Politeia) is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning the definition of justice (δικαιοσύνη), the order and character of the just city-state and the just man ecc..

It is Plato's best-known work, and one of the world's most influential works of philosophy and political theory, both intellectually and historically.

In the dialogue, Socrates discusses with various Athenians and foreigners the meaning of justice and whether the just man is happier than the unjust man.

Raffaello | Scuola di Atene - Platone / Raphael - The School of Athens (1509-1511)

Willem Haenraets, 1940 | Romantic lovers

Willem Haenraets was born in Rotterdam on October 9, 1940 and his talent was discovered at an early age.

When he was 16 years old, he started his education at the Academy of Arts in Maastricht.

Four years later he obtained a scholarship from the Belgian Government to study at the National Institute for Fine Arts in Antwerp, in the Master class of professor Sarina (Atelier Opsomer) and professor Vaarten.