Question

How did powerful families such as the Medici and the Sforza help spread Renaissance ideas?

Answer 1

They provided financial support to young artists and writers

Answer 2

The Medici and the Sforza families are very famous for having patronized artist during the Renaissance. Patronage occurs when a wealthy person, family, association, etc. helps to promote the work, in this case, the art, through the financial sponsoring of it.

What they would do was they would pay the artists for their artwork, and this was of big importance during The Renaissance because it allowed many important artists to focus on their work, instead of focusing on making money. Among the artists who enjoyed such sponsorships, we can find Leonardo Da Vinci, Galileo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Massacio, Brunelleschi, and many others. By taking a look at those names we can begin to imagine the huge impact the patronizing of artists had during that time.