Most art during the Renaissance period was done by commission. A Renaissance era artist had the advantage of knowing ahead of time all he would need to complete such work, at the disadvantage of very little artistic license. More modern artists, mostly working for their own benefit and with their own creative drive powering their work, must work absent this same "patronage", and create what is popular or likely to sell and assign a value to their own work based on prevailing market value and demand.
