IV. Choose the word (A, B, C or D) that best fits each blank space in the following passage.
FROM A MAGNATE TO AN ART COLLECTOR
During the Gilded Age, spanning from the 1870s to the early 1900s, wealthy individuals played a vital (17) ______ in shaping the art world. Among them was John D. Rockefeller, (18) ______ made significant contributions that influenced the evolution of art during his time.
John D. Rockefeller, an American industrialist, had a long-standing (19) ______ for modern art and spent the better part of a century collecting artworks by Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and others. His collection was (20) ______ of a wide range of artistic styles and periods, indicating a diverse taste. Moreover, he provided assistance for both established and emerging artists. For instance, he commissioned Mexican painter Diego Rivera to create the mural “Man at the Crossroads” for Rockefeller Center. (21) ______ the painting was controversial and eventually destroyed due to ideological differences, it showcased Rockefeller’s openness to modern and socially relevant art. Such willingness and patronage resulted (22) ______ the elevation of artists’ status and the exploration of new themes.
