Patron

A person who supports the arts or an individual artist and has their name associated with the person and/or the work. The connotation suggests generosity, but many patrons have become involved primarily to enhance their own reputation and self importance. These motives became especially true from 17th-Century France when art was created outside the control of the Catholic Church and private money was associated with the value of art. Source: Kimberley Reynolds & Richard Seddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"