Andrei Jane F.

Gavino
2013-55407

Humanities 2

REPORT ON
EAST DOORS OF THE BAPTISTERY BY LORENZO GHIBERTI

The first door of the baptistery that Ghiberti designed was the north doors because he won the contest for the
commission to make a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistery of the cathedral of Florence.

He and six other artists were given the task of representing the biblical scene of Abrahams sacrifice of Isaac in a bronze relief
of quatrefoil shape, following the tradition of the first set of doors produced by Andrea Pisano (133036). The entry panels of Ghiberti and
of Filippo Brunelleschi are the sole survivors of the contest. Ghibertis panels displayed a graceful and lively composition executed with a
mastery of the goldsmiths art. In 1402 Ghiberti was chosen to make the doors by a large panel of judges; their decision brought immediate
and lasting recognition and prominence to the young artist.

The north doors used the same quatrefoil format as Pisano and with the same number of reliefs--28.

East Doors of Baptistery or Gates of Paradise

17 ft tall, contains 10 panels, bronze

His second set of doors--the so-called Gates of Paradise of the East Doors of Baptistery, however, have much
larger panels and use a square format rather than the medieval quatrefoil. Thus, they can accommodate several
scenes relating to one Old Testament hero and use many figures (more than a hundred in some panels) and
extensive details. These doors depict events from the Creation to the reign of Solomon.

Because of the beauty and grandeur of the doors, Michaelangelo called it the Gates of Paradise

Ghiberti uses different sculptural techniques, from incised lines to almost free-standing figure sculpture, within
the panels, further accentuating the sense of space.

It is executed in lost wax technique.

After making drawings and sketch models in clay or wax,
preparation of full scale detailed wax representations of every
component of reliefs were done. There are rumors that he
modelled directly on wax while others say that there was an
initial model then indirect wax on cast.

Deep space convincing through: one-point linear perspective, aerial perspective, receding size of the figure as
they recede in the distance.
Painting in sculpture
It started Renaissance
Used rilievo schiacciato- figures are distributed in very low relief in a perspective space
Used medieval narrative- method of combining several stories in 1 frame. But still shows influence of classical
sculpture in the figure style.
It showed Renaissance realism in the movements and gestures of figures.

Andrei Jane F. Gavino

2013-55407

Humanities 2

Discussion on 3 MOST FAMOUS PANELS

Angels
Adam and Eve panel
It has 4 major episodes or scenes:
a. On the far left, the creation of Adam
b. On the center, the creation of Eve from the
ribs of Adam
c. On the background, left, the temptation by
the serpent
d. On the right side, expulsion of Adam and Eve

-Modulated the scale and degree of the

projection of the angels to visually separate the
4 scenes.
- He successfully interwove the 4 scenes

Isaac panel/ Jacob and Esau panel

New system of linear perspective, episodes of
the story around the vanishing point framed
by the central arch of Renaissance logia
Single point perspective because:
Vanishing point center of the panel
Division of the picture base into a
number of equal section
Relation of each section to the height
of the figures
Tile floor- used as network of
coordinates for the exact pooling of
object
Convergence of all diagonals
Nearly 3D foreground figures, masterful use of
scientific perspective, impressive architechture
-

High relief

Low relief

Andrei Jane F. Gavino

2013-55407

Humanities 2

David panel
- Showed talent for evoking large crowd within the small
area
- David is in the process of severing the head of Goliath
with his own large sword. Part of the figure of Noah can
be seen at the low

Self portrait of Ghiberti in the

border of the door

Cain and Abel panel

Noah panel

Joseph panel

Andrei Jane F. Gavino

2013-55407

Humanities 2

Moses panel

Solomon panel

Abraham panel

Joshua panel

References:

Sullivan, M. (n.d.) Gates of Paradise, Florence Baptistry. Retrieved from

https://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/florence/ghibertiparadise/ghibertiparadise.html
Lowenthal, C. (2015, July 8) Lorenzo Ghiberti. Retrieved from
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Lorenzo-Ghiberti