Yesterday, Jim and I went to a class on art and architecture in Florence during the Renaissance. It was a lecture and slide presentation all day with people who love Italy, especially Florence.

Most heartening was to think of the great works of art that were created because of the system of patronage, especially by the Medicis. Artists were really free to work. Their meals were paid for. Their rent was taken care of. Their children were provided for. And they were left to do what they did best–create.

This isn’t to say that the system of patronage didn’t create problems. But it also provided money for artists, something there is precious little of right now.

The instructor left us with the sense that there are many Leonardo da Vincis, many Michelangelos, many Brunelleschis in our midst, but that because of the practical concerns of life and the neglect of the arts, we will not have many masterpieces like those created in the Renaissance.

Of course, yes, you rise early, you do your art, you go to work, you take care of your family. Yes, some people do seem to be able to do it all. But the Renaissance was simply different.