To commission something ( or someone to do something)

Hello everyone,

I may be wrong, but doesn't "commission" suggest that someone in authority asks/requests someone else to do/make something? I don't think that "She commissioned an artist to paint her portrait" is the same as "She paid an artist to paint her portrait". It's like there's something "grand" about commission. I am not entirely sure if "commissioning" someone to do something involves paying them.

I assume I am 100% wrong, so I'd like to see what you think.

Thank you.