How did Lorenzo de’ Medici help the early career of Michelangelo?

Lorenzo de’ Medici, known as "the Magnificent," played a pivotal role in the early career of Michelangelo by recognizing the young artist's talent and taking him under his wing.1

Lorenzo integrated Michelangelo into his inner circle, where the artist was surrounded by the leading poets and intellectuals of the day. Crucially, this patronage provided Michelangelo with access to the Medici art collection, which was rich in ancient Roman statuary. While the bronze sculptor Bertoldo di Giovanni—a friend of the Medici who managed the collection—served as the closest figure to a teacher for Michelangelo, the young artist primarily used the collection to study and refine his own approach to sculpture. This formative period allowed Michelangelo to develop his early mastery, as evidenced by his creation of the Battle of the Centaurs during his time under Lorenzo's influence.1