The concept of art came about in the West during the Renaissance when individuals began to create paintings, sculptures, and architecture for purposes other than household use or ritual ceremonies. Patrons, or people who supported the arts, would commission works to be made. For example, the Medici family in Florence, Italy were staunch patrons of the arts. In particular, Lorenzo de Medici was a fervent patron of Renaissance art. As a matter of fact, he has been credited for “discovering” some of the great Renaissance artists—Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Botticelli. He hired them to create works of art for personal and political purposes. Even religious figures, such as Pope Julius II, commissioned artists to create works for their chapels and living quarters. It became a status symbol to have such talented artists at their disposal.

So, you might be asking yourself, “If art didn’t come about until the Renaissance, what were the paintings, sculpture, and architecture produced prior to the 16th century?” When archaeologists unearth or discover objects made by humans prior to the Renaissance, they typically refer to them as artifacts. These items had a specific purpose, such as a rug, pottery, or an item used for ritual purposes.