The Guild System in Dante's Florence

Guilds, or Arti, in Italian, were a body of artisans, merchants, or other specialized workers, whose trade and pursuits had similar political, social and economic interests. Guilds formed to protect their mutual interests, much like a modern trade union. Each guild had a representative in the local governing body. Dante himself was an elected official for his guild. Guilds were also major public patrons of the arts.

Guilds in Dante's Florence were housed in Orsanmichele, a large grain storage building. Each guild was symbolically represented by their patron saint, whose likeness was carved in niches placed intermittently around the outside of the building. Orsanmichele was a place for people to conduct business, buy food or other wares, and influence city politics.

Some workers were not part of a guild. These workers were called Ciompi. Though they were not indentured workers and could leave their jobs at will, they were a very poor class of workers. In contrast, the guilds were full of wealthier people who also achieved a high social status from membership in the guild. Thus, the guild system reinforced a complex medieval class structure.

The seven major guilds that existed in 13th-14th century Florence were:

1. Arte di Calimala: refiners of imported wool
2. Arte della Lana: wool merchants who made their own wool
3. Arte dei Giudici e Notai: judges and notaries
4. Arte del Cambio: bankers
5. Arte della Seta: silk weavers, also precious metal workers
6. Arte dei Medici e Speziali: doctors and pharmacists, also painters
7. Arte dei Vaiai e Pellicciai: furriers

Dante was in the Arte dei Medici e Speziali, which was the most prestigious guild. Though he was not in these professions, one had to join a guild to be able to vote. Therefore, political thinkers were often in guilds, though they were not directly associated with the professional activities of the guild.

There were also minor guilds. These guilds shifted often, and were sometimes incorporated into a major guild. One example of minor guild was the Arte di Pietra e Legname, the workers in stone and wood. This guild contained sculptors, masons and some architects, important to the study of art history.

Painters were included in the same guild with doctors and pharmacists because the mixing of pigments was akin to the mixing of drugs. Both required a knowledge of chemistry.