Final answer:
Wealthy merchant families, like the Medici, were patrons of the arts during the Italian Renaissance, providing financial support to artists and commissioning their works.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Italian Renaissance, wealthy merchant families like the Medici were important patrons of the arts. They used their vast fortune to sponsor and support artists, commissioning works from leading artists of the time, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo. This financial support allowed artists to flourish and created an environment where art and architecture could thrive.