Patronage in the Arts: Theories and Contemporary Challenges

Abstract This chapter offers an overview of key aspects of research into patronage exchange, highlighting ways of examining the changing requirements for—and modalities of—the exchange between artists and donors over the centuries. It outlines pre- and post-Romantic patronage dynamics and exchange patterns, paying special attention to ways of examining the volatile balance of power between artist and donor. It addresses ways of evaluating what both parties put in and get out of their alliance and looks at the negotiation strategies that have been open to artists throughout history. It also explores the role the artwork and its autonomy play in the patronage game of give and take. Lastly, the chapter addresses the issue of gift versus transactionality, exploring how artists navigate between the demands of the market economy on the one hand, and those of the gift economy on the other.