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Why did Andrea Mantegna ask Lorenzo de' Medici for help in 1484?
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Andrea Mantegna
Arrival of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga, fresco by Andrea Mantegna, completed 1474; in the Camera degli Sposi, Palazzo Ducale, Mantua, Italy.
In 1484, Andrea Mantegna sought assistance from Lorenzo de' Medici because he was facing severe financial hardship.1
Following the death of his patron, Ludovico Gonzaga, in 1478, and the subsequent loss of his son Bernardino—who had been expected to continue the artist's studio—Mantegna's economic situation had deteriorated significantly. Due to these circumstances, he even contemplated relocating to Florence to improve his prospects. His financial stability eventually improved later that same year following the accession of Francesco II as the new ruler of Mantua.1