They were a family of bankers with great political influence. Throughout the Renaissance, the Medici family paid important painters, architects, and sculptors to create great artworks for them. These impressive works were like advertisements, visually announcing the family’s and Florence’s great power and wealth. At the same time, Medici support allowed artists to focus completely on their work without having to worry about making a living. As a result, thanks to the Medici, there was a great outpouring of important work that helped shape the course of art from the Renaissance onward.