Invent a Renaissance persona for yourself. You will assume the role of a patron who wishes to commission a specific work of art (a painting, sculpture, or building/structure [church, chapel, residence, study]) from a particular artist in order to fulfill specific functions. Your essay will consist of a “letter” that you as the patron write to the artist in order to: 1. introduce yourself; 2. explain exactly what it is you want the artist to make for you [what does it look like; what materials should the artist use; where is it located]; 3. how the work is supposed to function [why you have commissioned it; who has access to it; what messages it is supposed to communicate]; and 4. why you wish him/her (i.e. the particular artist you are addressing) to carry out the work [this presumes that you are familiar with his/her work, so in this section you should briefly but critically discuss some of his/her work on its own terms as well as in relation to your own project]. In addressing all of these issues, be as detailed as you possibly can. While this project entails creativity and originality on your part (and I sincerely wish that you have some fun with this!!), it also demands historical accuracy; all of your inventions must remain within the bounds of historical plausibility.
