Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro, by Pedro Berruguete, c1476-77 (detail)









It was a great pleasure to have another chance to view Robert Hughes' The Mona Lisa Curse on More 4 last night (5.12.09). What a brilliantly produced film: a visual feast and compelling in its intensity. Robert Hughes with his wonderful profile reminded me of the portraits and legend of the condotierre Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, that great warrior of the Renaissance. Of course in the Renaissance, patronage of the arts was as much about power, prestige, influence, egotism and narcissism as it is now, but then, at least, there was also a passion for the qualities art can embody in its material self. Artists may have been considered mere artisans but they were expected to deliver great works of art. Nowadays the ability to perform as a celebrity personality is enough to win patronage.

How one longs for the art establishment to wake up and realise its misuse of power, wealth and influence is not just a scandal but will also one day come to seem totally absurd. You would have thought the sham would already have been acknowledged, given the discredit that has befallen its patrons in the finance sector, but, alas, I think it will be a long time yet before this Titanic hits its iceburg - the collusion of state art and commercial interest will propell it forwards far into the wintry night.