Rise of Financiers

The Medici family's adoption of double-entry bookkeeping revolutionized finance, enabling a new class of financiers to emerge alongside traditional power structures like the church and military. This economic shift not only enhanced their wealth but also influenced cultural expression, leading to the creation of hyper-realistic art that reflected their newfound status and aspirations. The transition from flat, symbolic representations to lifelike depictions marked a significant transformation in artistic narrative during the Renaissance.