**New Renaissance Mailing List**
The Medici family in Florence ran Europe's biggest bank in the 15th century. This was largely built up by Cosimo de Medici who became a great minder of the arts and a collector of old writtings. His grandson Lorenzo, who was basically ruler of Florence (1469-1492), became even more famous as a minder of the arts (patron), earning the title The Magnificent. Leronzo even allowed the family business to fall due to his interest in Literature and art. He also spent a great deal of public money to give Florence beautiful works of art and fine buildings saying:
"Many think that it would have been preferable to keep some of the money in the treasury; I think that our patronage was the great splendour of our regime and, in my opinion, the money was well spent."
Lorenzo's money supported a group of writers and scholars known as the Platonic Academy, where Greek and Latin manuscripts were studied and translated. Artists like Botticelli, Verrocchio and Leonardo de Vinci, were employed by Lorenzo. It is interesting to note that while Leonardo da Vinci is now regarded as one of the world's most famous painters, Lorenzo used him to design parades and festival decorations to help celebrate great occasions. Towards the end of his short life (he died of gout at the age of 43), Lorenzo set up a sculpture school in his own gardens and was very impressed by a 15 year old student named Michelanglo!!.
(Please Visit my Home Page)
This page is best viwed using:
______________________________________________________
