WHO PATRONS THE MODERN RENAISSANCE?

In a world of corporate profit prioritization, who is going to usher in the next Renaissance? The Medici family brought Florence Italy to the forefront of art, culture, and business with their willingness to invest in the arts and education. This positioned the family and city as allies to the arts and scholars. The perks of being a friend of the Midicis could include lodging, working studios, education, social currency, and even a hefty pay day. Their influence was a defining feature in many of the most significant careers of the Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, and more. The family’s resources and connections could catapult an artist to unseen heights.

Unfortunately, without the power of a patron like the Medici family, even the best artists failed to garner the recognition they deserved. Lesser known Italian Renaissance painter Fede Galizia was one of the earliest and most iconic practitioners in the fruit Still Life genre. Galizia’s paintings were captivatingly detailed, visually balanced, with an unparalleled attention to shadow, light, and texture. However, without the access to court-oriented or aristocratic social circles she struggled to gain the acknowledgment her art deserved. As an homage to Fede Galizia’s incredible and under-appreciated work, multidimensional artist Ellie Kay, created this low contrast digital photography still life series that primarily features fruit and the calla lily; a symbol of resilience.

Influenced by cinematic portraiture and the emotional depth of classical painting, artist Ellie Kay balances the similarities of our shared worlds with its inherent differences. The series invites viewers to consider what art brings to our lives and asks who will patron the next great wave of creation?

"Donatello in Date Entry", the first fine art photo featured below, poses the question: would he have created "David" without the Medici influence? Could he have acquired and afforded the tools or supplies? How many modern day Donatellos are aggregating data and organizing spreadsheets instead of pushing boundaries?

This work is on display in the courtyard of the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center June through October 2026.

Additional works from this series and on location photographs of the museum banner are below.