What is some informatiom about banker and builders of the Medieval and Renaissance?

Question

I am looking for information on how building projects were funded along with informtion about who were behind these fundings.

Answer 1

There were three main sources for funding during the Renaissance.

The ruling Ducal power or wealthy families for example The Medici of Florence.

The Church

The Guilds


Here's a little information on the guilds and banking during this era.

Twelve artist guilds(there were 21 trade guilds in total) that regulated the trades were the basis of Florence's commercial success. Members of the guilds, who were wealthy and held positions in government, were some of Florence's most influential people in society and politics. Because of its strong economy and a political philosophy that was dedicated to the welfare of the city, Florence thrived.


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The most powerful guilds were those that represented textile workers. Much of Florence's wealth was dependent on the manufacture or trade of cloth, primarily wool. Wool of superior quality was often purchased unfinished and untreated from England and Iberia. Florentine textile workers then cleaned, carded, spun, dyed, and wove the wool into cloth of excellent quality. They sold the finished material in Italy, northern European cities, and even in eastern countries. Other textile experts purchased inferior cloth from northern cities and refinished it to create a superior product.

Because Florence was not a port city like Venice, sea trade was not a primary source of its income. Banking, however, was. Many families of Florence, beginning in the thirteenth century, were successful bankers. The Florentine gold coin known as the florin was of such reliable purity that it was the standard coinage throughout Europe. Florentine bankers were known throughout Europe as well, for they established banking houses in other important cities such as London, Geneva, and Bruges (Belgium).

The Palazzo Vecchio, constructed in 1299, was the home of the Florentine guilds. Then, as well as today, it functioned as the seat of municipal government and the heart of Florentine culture. It was here that the city's 5,000 guild members, who had the power of the vote, gathered to discuss and determine city issues. In addition to textile workers and bankers, the guild members included masons and builders, sculptors, lawyers, and solicitors.

Some examples of projects which were funded during the Renaissance were parts of the Duomo in Florence which were funded by various guilds, the Uffizi which was funded by the Medici, the statue of Saint Matthew in Orsanmichele by the Cambio or bankers guild etc etc,

Answer 2

Here is a site that shows information on the shipping industry. Because European kings received much of their income from taxes on trade, they encouraged merchants to form joint-stock companies to finance trading voyages to new colonies and other distant lands. Similar to modern corporations, stock was sold to many people who shared the expense and risk of expensive ocean voyages. If a ship went down, no single investor would suffer a great financial loss, but all stockholders would share in the profits of a successful voyage.

The second site listed as information during the Renaissance and the wealth and growth at that time.

Family-owned, credit-giving banks of Renaissance Italy ushered in the modern world capitalist system. http://www.amazon.com/History-Money-Jack-Weatherford/dp/0609801724

Answer 3

In addition to the Guilds don't underestimate the patronage of the Church. Pope Julius II was the pope who commissioned Michaelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and also had the Papal apartments painted by Raphael. DaVinci painted his Last Supper on the wall of a monastery. There's lots of famous art in Churchs in Italy - the Titian "Assumption" in the Franciscan Church in Venice for example.

There is also the patronage of rich individuals like the Medicis who commissioned sculptures from Michaelangelo for the Medici tomb.