"Private patronage" refers to financial support or sponsorship provided by an individual or a private entity to support a particular cause, individual, or work of art. Full definition
Jane Duncan, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba), praised Hirst for making «an exceptional contribution to the UK's strong history of private patronage of architecture». (bbc.co.uk)
His work received official sanction in the form of private patronage from Kenneth Clark, Director of the National Gallery, and it was Clark's financial support that enabled him to devote himself entirely to his art and teaching at the newly founded Euston Road School with William Coldstream and Claude Rogers. (artlyst.com)
Within this context, SAF hopes to promote and encourage an environment of public and private patronage for the highest level of artistic endeavour. (resnicow.com)