Poet’s Freedom and Its Boundaries. Literary Patronage in the Eyes of Roman Authors of Late Republican and Augustan Period, (in:) Freedom and Its Limits in the Ancient World, ed. by D. Brodka, J. Janik, S. Sprawski, Kraków: Jagiellonian University Press 2003 (= "Electrum” Vol. 9), p. 91-111. (original) (raw)

This paper explores the dynamics of literary patronage as perceived by Roman authors during the Late Republican and Augustan periods, with a particular focus on Horace's responses to patronage and the expectations surrounding poetic production. By examining Horace's works, especially his Epistles, the author argues that poetic freedom often comes with constraints influenced by patrons and societal norms. Through textual analysis, the paper highlights Horace's negotiation of these boundaries and the rhetorical strategies he employs to assert his artistic autonomy while navigating the demands of his patrons.