Final answer:
The shift in patronage during the 17th and 18th centuries was marked by a move from royal and ecclesiastical patrons to the affluent middle class, stimulated by the centralization of power during absolutism, the decline of nobility's wealth based on land, and the emergence of new economic powers through industry and trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, there was a substantial shift in patronage from the monarchy and the Church to a burgeoning middle class, fueled by the economic, political, and social developments of the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Absolutism centralized power with the monarchy, and in this period, wealth and power were tightly linked. The nobility's traditional sources of wealth, such as land ownership, began to decline in importance compared to commerce and industry, leading to a change in the basis of societal power and influence. The rise of the middle class and their engagement in arts patronage reflected a new sense of national pride and a desire to showcase their status.
The expansion of the British Empire and the increase in international trade led to greater wealth being generated through commerce and industries rather than traditional land ownership. The Industrial Revolution played a significant role in this transition, fostering a new class of landowners, factory owners, and merchants who profited tremendously, and subsequently became the new patrons of the arts. This shift from noble to bourgeois patronage signified a democratic evolution in art engagement, reflecting the changing power structures and the rise of a consumer-driven economy.