What did patrons pay
for?

Most commissions were for religious works. Many banking families, for example, viewed the funding of altarpieces and chapels as a kind of penance for usury (moneylending at interest), which was condemned by the church but inherent to their profession.

Explanation:

why what did she do?

payments were made after the 1940s.

in the 1980s, a commission held investigations and made recommendations.