I was thinking about the renaissance’s impact on art, and it struck me how much it contributed to the idea of artistic “whims.” Before that, art was frequently enough primarily religious or commissioned with vrey specific parameters. The Renaissance, with its patronage system from wealthy families like the Medici, allowed artists more freedom to explore individual styles and subjects that weren’t strictly tied to dogma or royal decree.
Consider something like Botticelli’s *Primavera*. It’s full of classical allusions and symbolism, but it’s also just… stunning. Its purpose wasn’t solely to instruct or inspire religious piety. It was meant to be aesthetically pleasing and perhaps intellectually stimulating, allowing for more personal interpretation. This shift towards valuing aesthetic pleasure and individual artistic vision seems like a major step in popularizing the idea that artists coudl, and perhaps *should*, follow their own creative inclinations, their “whims,” to produce something unique and valuable.
Does anyone else have thoughts on other specific Renaissance works that highlight this move towards embracing more individual artistic expression and aesthetic whims? I’m especially curious about examples outside of painting too, like in sculpture or architecture.