Wealthy merchant family who were
patrons of the arts were the Medici family. Lorenzo de' Medici was
himself a very wealthy merchant and ardent lover of art works. During the 15th
century at Florence Lorenzo de' Medici was considered the greatest
patron of art and literature. He was also the person who loved collecting
antiques from the Greek and Roman period. He played a very important part as
far as collecting art works are concerned. He also employed an artist named
Botticelli.