1389 Cosimo De Medici's Influence On The Renaissance

On September 27, 1389 Cosimo de Medici was born in Florence, and he became a grand influence on the people of the Renaissance. Medici was part of a large family of bankers and successful patrons. People called him Pater Patriae, which in Latin means Father of our Country. His great grandson, Lorenzo de Medici, or Lorenzo the Magnificent, named for his leadership and patronage, was also a significant part of Renaissance history. De Medici patronized artists by allowing them stay at his house while they produced their artwork. Also, he took care of the majority of the supply costs so that artists could work on their art without worrying about money. This is an example of Medici as a very involved and supportive patron. As a child Medici had a well rounded …show more content…
When he was older he studied Latin; as an adult he even founded an academy for scholars located in Florence. The academy was in Florence and was called “Platonic Academy,” named after the philosopher Plato. Medici studied Latin. Cosimo was so interested in the Greek and Latin writings that he sent special agents to search old libraries in Europe. If an ancient manuscript was found, it was to be copied and then brought back to Florence for De Medici, so Medici then used the manuscripts to generate ideas from Ancient Greece and Rome and to copy those ideas and bring the ideas to everyday life. He also financed hospitals and churches just as his father had done as a patron. De Medici was eager to follow the footsteps of his father and become a great Medici. Cosimo de Medici’s favorite architect was Michelozz Michelangelo, and even Leonardo da Vinci. As an example of one of the artists that Cosimo de Medici supported, Da Vinci, he didn’t just paint the Mona Lisa, he also painted the painting, “The Lady With The Ermine.” The woman in this painting is Cecilia Gallerani, mistress of the Duke of Milan, and in the painting she is holding