Art Commissioning: Three Case Studies on One of the Driving Forces Shaping Art History

Many of history’s most famous artworks were commissioned by sovereigns, administrative officials and the nobility. Pieces like the Guernica by Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and most of Andy Warhol’s celebrity portraits were all commissioned - begging the question, 'how has art history been shaped by the practice of commissioning?'

The Mona Lisa (Mona is a contraction of Madonna, translated to “My Lady Lisa”) is a household name. However, not many of us will have heard of Lisa del Giocondo, the woman who posed for the portrait which has its own room at the Louvre and the highest insurance value in the world.

The Mona Lisa was commissioned by her husband, Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy silk merchant in Florence in the early 16th century. Today, we see the painting as mysterious and alluring in its depiction of Lisa del Giocondo with a disappearing smile and without any lines or borders (a technique called sfumato which da Vinci helped innovate). Without the commission, this portrait would never have seen the light of day; especially as it may have been a self-portrait instead (there are theories that the figure in the painting is an androgynous mix of Lisa del Giocondo and Leonardo Da Vinci himself).

A self-portrait of Leonardo Da Vinci imposed on the Mona Lisa. (Image credits: The Geographical Cure.)

Commissioning drove artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci (and Andy Warhol!) to create masterpieces which have carved out the path of art history.

But commissions sometimes only informed sections or element of the piece. Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne was commissioned in 1520 by the Duke Alphonso d’Este of Ferrara, for the Camerino d‘Alabastro (Alabaster Room) in his Ducal Palace. The room was intended to depict scenes of hedonism, indulgence, and copulation. Not only does the bacchanal theme of the commission restrict the subject matter of Titian’s work, but the patron’s interests and life are also factored into the artistic choices made by Titian. For example, the foreground shows the detail of a small dog, which art historians have agreed is Alfonso’s own dog (in fact the inclusion of the patron’s dog is common in commissioned art). The dynamic pose between Araidne and Bacchus is also reminiscent of the legendary marital coverlet from the ekphrasis of Catullus 64, which is supposed to depict this exact scene. Titian would have known of Alfonso and his friends’ classical education and familiarity with this image, which would have added pressure to ensure his painting was as close to the Roman poem as possible, limiting any possible artistic licence he may have exercised on the piece.

This isn’t the only instance where a commission may have influenced the way a famous artist painted. Raphael, the “Prince of Painting”, was commissioned in 1504-1507 to paint the portraits of Agnolo and Maddalena Doni. Doni was a silk merchant in the 16th century and the wealthiest man in Florence at the time, and had also commissioned works by Michaelangelo. These portraits are clearly an echo of the Mona Lisa – the ¾ poses and folded hands as well as the austere gazes out of the canvas are very much the same - leading many historians to see these commissions as stoking competition between painters.

The value and influence of art commissioning is evident in these three case studies – commissioning has led to the production and design of some of the most well-known and deeply studied masterpieces in art history. Commissioning serves another more spiritual purpose too: it was often a way for patrons to express their religious devotion and alignments. Even in the modern day, commissioning art, not just making it, can be a therapeutic experience, according to Irish artist Adrian “Ren” Reynolds, since it motivates you to think about art often in a novel perspective. However, the continuation of this practice also means that art continues to be disproportionately moved by the mores and interests of the monies classes.

Propaganda throughout history is being increasingly viewed as commissioned art, and plays a key role in helping historians understand the politics of different epochs. However, the era of commissioned art is far from over. Through the commissioning of new art that museums and galleries are able to keep their collections dynamic and up-to-date; and thereby continuing to influence the flow of art history.