the.com/patron
The funder who gives art a roof, a meal, and their own face in the corner.
means A person who gives money or support to an artist, cause, or institution — or, more loosely, a regular customer of a business.
from From Latin patronus, "protector, defender," itself from pater, "father" — the wealthy Roman who shielded clients the way a father shields a household. The same root branches into "patron" and "pattern" (a model to copy) and "patronize," which still carries both meanings: to support, and to condescend like a self-important father figure.
latin rootFrom pater, father — the protective sugar daddy of culture
renaissance fuelThe Medici basically venture-capitalized the whole Renaissance
sneaky cameoPatrons often slipped themselves into the paintings they paid for
double dutyAlso means a regular customer and a guardian saint