[mitthrowaway2]

It's sort of true. Give money to the masses, and there will be more demand for mass-produced products. When money is concentrated in the hands of a few elite, they'll commission some exceptional things.

But on the other hand, the same masterwork staircases could be put towards public buildings, like grand libraries, museums, and train stations. Then everyone can enjoy those splendid things and the master craftsmen still stay in business, without their works needing to be confined to the mansions of the wealthy.

But these days we tend to disapprove of public works being anything beyond the bare minimum of utilitarian functionality. Anything else is seen as a wasteful extravagance.