Wealthy merchant family who were patrons of the arts were the Medici family. Lorenzo de' Medici was himself a very wealthy merchant and ardent lover of art works. During the 15th century at Florence Lorenzo de' Medici was considered the greatest patron of art and literature. He was also the person who loved collecting antiques from the Greek and Roman period. He played a very important part as far as collecting art works are concerned. He also employed an artist named Botticelli.