【C】
           It is near impossible to imagine a world without the artworks of Botticelli, Da Vinci, andMichelangelo. Without the Medici’s generous patronage and encouragement during the HighRenaissance (14th-15th century), many landmark depictions of beauty and devotion would have nevercome to fruition.
          The patriarch that gave origin to the family was Giovanni de’ Medici. Born in Florence, Italy, in1360, he was the son of a wool merchant. Giovanni absolutely did not want to end up like his father,who died without much to his name. Instead of becoming a merchant, he became an apprentice to hisdistant uncle, Vieri de’ Medici, who owned a chain of banks.
          The dowry he received from his marriage enabled him to take advantage of his uncle’sdiminishing prominence, and he bought out all of Vieri’s banks in 1397. The family went on toestablish more financial institutions in areas, such as London and Milan. Along with their namesakebanks, the Medici dynasty expanded to wool factories, traded commodities such as silk and spices,and delved heavily into politics.
          When Giovanni died in 1429, his lifelong ambitions were fulfilled as the family’s finances werein excellent shape when his son, Cosimo the Elder, took over. Around this time, the family becamethe wealthiest in all of Florence.
          A good fraction of the family’s fortune was spent on commissioning works of art, whether itwas for their home, public display, or devotion for the church. At the forefront of the family’spatronage and influence throughout their reign during the Italian Renaissance was Lorenzo theMagnificent, the great-grandson of Giovanni.
          Botticelli was one of the favored artists that the Medicis financed. He was welcomed freelywithin their home (which included his own art studio) and attentively listened as well as engaged inintelligent, philosophical conversations among the nobles— many of which would spark inspirationfor his works.
          With the family’s utmost support and protection, especially for more secular matters, he wasable to explore and portray divine subjects that were not on strict terms with Christianity — anartistic approach that was not widely supported at the time. The Birth of Venus, in particular, wasspeculated to have been commissioned by the family circa 1485–1486. The painting itself was keptsecret due to its controversial nature as there were not any recollections of its existence before the1550s.
【題組】44. According to the passage, which of the following statements about Giovanni de’ Medici can beINFERRED?
(A) His father was a wool merchant who financed Botticelli, for he had received lots ofinspiration from his works.
(B) He learned banking systems from his uncle, Vieri de’ Medici, who owned a chain of banks.
(C) The great-grandson of Giovanni took over his wool factories after he died.
(D) Giovanni established and expanded the cattle ranches in Florence, Italy.