Wealth and the Demand for Art in Italy, 1300-1600

L’economia della conoscenza: innovazione, produttività e crescita economica nei secoli XIII-XVIII / The knowledge economy: innovation, productivity and economic growth, 13th to 18th century

“…Of course, there were private secretaries like the famous Ser Alessio Pelli who was the minister of Cosimo de' Medici's household as described by Dale Kent in her study on «the patron's oeuvre» (Kent 2000;Lang 2009). It was particularly the diversification of investments that made the difference: when the merchant banker's families became rich by the changing distribution of wealth in their favour within society, they started to diversify their investments (Goldthwaite 1995). At the end of the fifteenth century about 70 percent of the whole family properties were invested in businesses and about 30 percent in land.…”

Influential women and dress in Renaissance Italy: Power and identity in portraiture

“…The artist also conveyed the gold threads and rope trim. This portrait highlights Bronzino's famous intricate depictions of textiles, and the status symbol such complex and luxurious textiles conveyed about the level of unattainably wealth families such as the Medici possessed (Gáldy & Bronzino, 2013;Goldthwaite, 1993).…”

“…Not a valid bookmark selfreference.). The acquisitions of the largest number of European regions under one ruler aided in the proliferation of culture in mainland Europe (Goldthwaite, 1993).…”

“…This social practice became achievable with the accumulation of unprecedented levels of disposable income by members outside of the nobility, such as the Medici, unseen before this period. Around this new consumerist driven desire, the culture unique to Renaissance Italy emerged (Goldthwaite, 1993). Freudenberger (1963) asserts that the middle class's growth was the birthplace for modern consumerism and capitalism, with Goldthwaite (1993) stating "Art [and dress] is an index to culture not only for the style in which it is made… but also for its mere existence as a consumer object," (p. 6).…”

“…Around this new consumerist driven desire, the culture unique to Renaissance Italy emerged (Goldthwaite, 1993). Freudenberger (1963) asserts that the middle class's growth was the birthplace for modern consumerism and capitalism, with Goldthwaite (1993) stating "Art [and dress] is an index to culture not only for the style in which it is made… but also for its mere existence as a consumer object," (p. 6). This new emphasis on materialism in Renaissance Europe resulted in a surge in the textile and dress industries (McCall, 2017).…”