2. Explain how the artist's social status increased during the Renaissance period. Briefly explain why this happened.

At the age of 21 Durer's status had been elevated to a corresponding title of a member of upper class society. From a number of trips to Italy he had studied various masters such as Giovanni Bellini and Leo nardo Davinci which greatly influenced his work.  His visitings and collaborations with famous artists soon increased his name as a rennaissance artist. Specifically two portraits that he had painted from his 30's-40's showed his concern with Social Identity. Confronting  how society would view the portraits and what reaction he would get from them, these were successful in terms of developing the newest genre of the Renaissance, Individualism. The portraits were expressions of individuality, which was not seen though the dark ages (medievalism) as it was being introduced and developed. For once art was made for the sake of art rather than to provide an 'income' and Durer's audience had considered him to be magnificant in style for expressing himself in a edge setting manner.

Reference:
-http://www.renaissanceconnection.org/artistslife.html
-Blunt A. (1962). Artistic Theory in Italy 1450-1600. Oxford University Press.