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Life is short, but art lives forever. That's essentially the meaning behind the Latin saying "ars longa, vita brevis." The truth of this saying really hit home for me while watching a short documentary about the Medici family dynasty (1434-1737).

Any art lover can appreciate the Medicis for, if nothing else, their funding of the masterful artworks of Michelangelo and Rafael. But the patriarch of the Medicis, Giovanni Di Bicci De' Medici, started off as a wool merchant. He opened a bank as a kind of a side hustle that grew into his focus. 

It was a genius move. He had a very strategic mind, advancing many financial practices that have lasted in some form to the present day. For example, the Medicis started the practice of issuing letters of credit to merchants so that they didn't have to carry cash (and risk getting robbed). We still have letters of credit today, obviously, along with checks and debit cards.

But, as impressive as their financial achievements were, the reason why we remember the Medici family by name is because of the art.

They started the practice of commissioning public works. They also linked up with the Catholic church, managing their Treasury. This did two things. It laundered their reputation so that they were not just financial sharks. They aligned themselves with the Church (along with the Church's authority and all the religious art it commissioned), and were the patrons of several artists, such as the master Michelangelo. 

This was strategic. The patriarchs of the Medici family very much wanted their name to last forever. Similar to modern-day moguls donating to libraries, schools and other institutions - usually changing the name of the institution to theirs in the process - the Medicis wanted their family name to endure. They proactively secured their legacy.

Art is still a means to solidify one's legacy.  Passing on an art collection to your descendants is not only about wealth. It is a way to be remembered. It reveals your tastes and values. It's a way of passing on culture and education. Art has a significance that goes beyond money because it is one of a kind. A piece of art was created during a specific time period by a specific individual.  An original piece has never existed before, and will never exist in the same way again. Original art is as unique as you are!

Long after the cash has come and gone, the art lives on.

So, what's your legacy? How will your great-great-great children know what you valued and stood for? Legacy comes in many forms, but there's nothing quite like art.

If you'd like to follow my art, please scroll down and click the Get New Art Alerts link at the very bottom left of the page, in the footer, above my email address. To see works in progress, follow me on Instagram where I post to my Stories. Joining the VIP list gives you preferential access to works of your choice.

Till next time,

Raven