What role did a patron play in shaping the creation of a work of art?

Patrons funded artists and often paid a selection of chosen artists a salary. This injection of money in an artist was often exchanged for artworks and/or commissions, this dramatically helped impoverished artists hone their craft and develop new ideas for artworks. Also, patrons often commission artists to create an artwork with a specific brief or themes that they themselves have chosen, shaping the content of the artwork also.

Iwould say d) signed unknown street singers who brought original songs to record.