Imperial patronage supported art production from "summary" of Byzantium by Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)

Imperial patronage was essential to the production of art in ancient societies, providing funding, resources and expertise necessary for successful works of art.

With imperial patronage, art production became a tool used to build national identity, promote cultural exchange, strengthen existing political stratification and aid in diplomatic negotiations.

The powerful figured at the top of the social hierarchy such as monarchs, emperors and religious leaders used their influence to commission artwork and architecture that represented their authority.

This practice became even more significant in imperial contexts where centralized power allowed rulers to create large and grandiose works of art that served to show off their wealth and might.

It also provided employment opportunities to artists who could make a living by creating pieces that paid tribute to their patrons or conveyed specific messages.

Apart from fine art, imperial patronage enabled architects to design cities and places of worship, transforming local landscapes according to the patron’s preferences and beliefs.

Such works were a sign of prestige, and mainly used for religious functions, government proceedings and celebrations featuring monuments, sculptures and other breathtaking artwork.

All in all, imperial patronage played an important role in producing long-lasting works of art throughout history which continue to be admired today.

Creating legacies like these had multiple different purposes, such as displaying dominance over vassal states or generating propaganda.

In many instances, these elaborate constructions showed off the opulence of the ruling classes but also advanced engineering to previously unseen levels.