- Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege and often financial aid given by a person or an organization. It can also refer to the right of bestowing offices or church benefices, the business given by a regular customer, and the guardianship of saints.
In some countries the term is often used to describe the corrupt use of state resources to advance the interests of groups, families, ethnicities or races in exchange for electoral support. These patronage systems have different characteristics depending on the area in which they are practiced.
The term derives from the
Latin "patronatus", the formal relationship between a "Patronus " and his "Clientes".The arts
From the ancient world onward patronage of the
arts was important inart history . It is known in greatest detail in reference to pre-modern medieval andRenaissance Europe, though patronage can also be traced in feudal Japan, the traditionalSoutheast Asia n kingdoms, and elsewhere—art patronage tended to arise wherever a royal or imperial system and anaristocracy dominated a society and controlled a significant share of resources. Samuel Johnson defined a patron as "one who looks with unconcern on a man struggling for life in the water, and, when he has reached ground, encumbers him with help". [Quoted in Michael Rosenthal, "Constable", London: Thames and Hudson, 1987, p. 203.]Rulers, nobles, and very wealthy people used patronage of the arts to endorse their political ambitions, social positions, and prestige. That is, patrons operated as
sponsor s. Some languages still use the term "mecenate", derived from the name ofGaius Maecenas , generous friend and adviser to theRoman Emperor Augustus . Some patrons, such as theMedici ofFlorence , used artistic patronage to "cleanse" wealth that was perceived as ill-gotten throughusury . Art patronage was especially important in the creation ofreligious art . TheRoman Catholic Church and later Protestant groups sponsored art andarchitecture , as seen in churchs,cathedral s,painting ,sculpture , andhandicraft s.While sponsorship of artists and the commissioning of artwork is the best-known aspect of the patronage system, other disciplines also benefitted from patronage including those who studied
natural philosophy (pre-modernscience ),music ians, writers, philosophers, alchemists, astrologers, and otherscholar s. Artists as diverse and important asChrétien de Troyes ,Leonardo de Vinci andMichelangelo ,William Shakespeare , andBen Jonson all sought and enjoyed the support of noble or ecclesiastical patrons. [F. W. Kent et al., eds.,"Patronage, Art, and Society in Renaissance Italy," Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1987.] [Cedric C. Brown, "Patronage, Politics, and Literary traditions in England, 1558–1658," Detroit, Wayne State University Press, 1993.] Figures as late as Mozart and Beethoven also participated in the system to some degree; it was only with the rise of bourgeois and capitalist social forms in the 19th century that European culture moved away from its patronage system to the more publicly-supported system of museums, theatres, mass audiences and mass consumption that is familiar in the contemporary world. This kind of system continues across many fields of thearts . Though the nature of the sponsors has changed—from churches to charitable foundations, and from aristocrats to plutocrats—the term "patronage" has a more neutralconnotation than in politics. It may simply refer to direct support (often financial) of an artist, for example by grants.In the later part of the 20th century the academic sub-discipline of
patronage studies began to evolve, in recognition of the important and often neglected role that the phenomenon of patronage had played in the cultural life of previous centuries.Politics
Political leader s often have at their disposal a great deal of patronage, in the sense that they make decisions on the appointment ofofficial s inside and outside government (for example onquango s). Patronage is therefore a recognized power of the executive branch. In most countries the executive has the right to make manyappointment s, some of which may be lucrative (see alsosinecure s). In some democracies, high-level appointments are reviewed or approved by thelegislature (as in theadvice and consent of theUnited States Senate ); in other countries, such as those using theWestminster system , this is not the case.Nepotism andcronyism are more specific types of patronage.Patronage in the United States
In the
United States during theGilded Age , patronage became a central issue.Republican Senator
Roscoe Conkling ofNew York became a powerful political figure by determining who in the party would be given certain lucrative positions. Conkling and his supporters were known as "Stalwarts". The Republican reformers who opposed patronage and advocated a civil service system were known as "Mugwump s"—their lack of party loyalty seen as having their "mug" on one side of the fence, their "wump" on the other. Between the two were the "Halfbreeds", who were less patronage-oriented than the Stalwarts, but not as reform-minded as the Mugwumps. [Marvin and Dorothy Rosenberg, [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1962/5/1962_5_4.shtml The Dirtiest Election] , "American Heritage", August 1962, Volume 13, Issue 5. Accessed online 29 September 2006.]When
James Garfield became president, he appointed Halfbreeds to most offices (despite the appointment of StalwartChester A. Arthur to the role of Vice President, which represented a compromise within the Republican Party). This provoked the ire of the Stalwarts.Charles J. Guiteau , a Stalwart, assassinated Garfield in 1881, six months after he became President.To prevent further political violence and to assuage public outrage, Congress passed the
Pendleton Act in 1883, which set up the Civil Service Commission. Henceforth, applicants for most federal government jobs would have to pass an examination. Federal politicians' influence over bureaucratic appointments waned, and patronage declined as a national political issue.Charity
Charitable and other non-profit making organisations often seek an influential figurehead to act as patron. The relationship often does not involve money. As well as conferring credibility, these people can instead use their contacts and charisma to assist the organisation to raise funds or to affect government policy. The
British Royal Family are especially prolific in this respect, devoting a large proportion of their time to a wide range of causes.Commercial
Sometimes consumers support smaller or local businesses or corporations out of loyalty even if other cheaper options exist. Their regular custom is referred to as 'patronage'. Patronage may entitle members of a
consumers' cooperative to a share of the surplus or profit generated by the coop, called a "patronage refund". This refund is a form ofdividend .ports
In the same manner as commercial patronage, those who attend a sporting event may be referred to as patrons, though the usage in much of the world is now considered archaic — with one notable exception. Those who attend
The Masters Tournament , one of the four major championship of professionalgolf , are still traditionally referred to as "patrons," largely at the insistence of theAugusta National Golf Club . This insistence is occasionally made fun of bysportswriter s and other media. [ [http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1607332,00.html Davis, Seth: The difference between patrons and fans, Golf.com, April 6 2007.] ] More famously,CBS , which broadcasts the tournament, ran afoul of Augusta National management when Jack Whitaker referred to the patrons as a "mob" during a playoff betweenBilly Casper andGene Littler . Augusta co-founder Clifford Roberts had Whitaker banned from commentary duties in following years, though he was restored to work years later to replace another commentator who had fallen ill. [ [http://www.golfdigest.com/features/index.ssf?/features/gd200309myshot.html Chirkinian, Frank: My Shot, "Golf Digest ," September 2003.] ]In
polo , a "patron" is a person who puts together a team by hiring one or more professionals. The rest of the team may be amateurs, often including the patron himself (or, increasingly, herself). Some patrons are extremely skillful and serious players; others are more lighthearted and in it just for the fun.Ecclesiastical
Catholic
Patronage of Our Lady
The
liturgical feast of the Patronage of Our Lady was first permitted by Decree of theSacred Congregation of Rites on 6 May, 1679, for all the ecclesiastical provinces ofSpain , in memory of the victories obtained over the Saracens, heretics and other enemies from the sixth century to the reign ofPhilip IV of Spain . PopeBenedict XII ordered it to be kept in thePapal States on the third Sunday of November. To other places it is granted, on request, for some Sunday in November, to be designated by theordinary . In many places the feast of the Patronage is held with an additional Marian title of Queen of All Saints, of Mercy, Mother of Graces. The Office is taken entirely from the Common of the Blessed Virgin, and the Mass is the "Salve sancta parens". The Greeks have no feast of this kind, but the Ruthenians, followed by all the Slavs of the Greek Rite, have a feast, called "Patrocinii sanctissimæ Dominæ" etc., or "Pokrov Bogorodicy", fixed on1 October , which, however, would seem to correspond more with the CatholicFeast of the Scapular .Anglican
:"See main article Parish"In the
Church of England , "patronage" is the commonly-used term for the right to present a candidate for the benefice of a particularparish .ee also
*
Clientela
*Gift economy
*FairShare
*Tammany Hall
*Civil service exam Notes
ources and external links
*Johannes Baptist Sägmüller. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11560c.htm Patron and Patronage] , "The
Catholic Encyclopedia ", Volume XI, 1911, Robert Appleton Company. This is the reference for the Canon law section.
* [http://www.geocities.com/rr17bb/patronage.html The role of patrons in the Renaissance]
* [http://www.filmmakerstower.com Filmmakers Tower] where film projects become real thanks to Patrons of the Arts with Vision.
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