Lecture 11: Early Renaissance Sculpture in Florence
Two of the most important sculptors of the early 15th century were Lorenzo
Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi, although Brunelleschi is most famous as
an architect. Brunelleschi was one of seven entrants in a competition held in
1401 to design a second set of bronze doors for the Baptistery adjacent to the
façade of the Cathedral of Florence. The Baptistery has three entrances and
already had one set of bronze doors by Andrea Pisano (c. 1330). The ¿ nalists
in the competition were Brunelleschi and Ghiberti. The subject assigned
them was the sacri¿ ce of Isaac.In Brunelleschi’s Sacri¿ ce of Isaac (c. 1401), Isaac is kneeling on an altar in
the center, an angel is emerging, and a ram can be seen in the left foreground.
Note the angular and forceful design, with the angel physically restraining
Abraham. The quatrefoil design is used here, and the ¿ gures were made
separately, then fused onto the door. Ghiberti’s Sacri¿ ce of Isaac (c. 1401)
is in strong contrast. Ghiberti’s depiction of Isaac is Classical. The angel
here gestures to Abraham, instead of grasping his arm as in Brunelleschi’s
depiction. Ghiberti was awarded the commission.Our example shows an aerial view of the Baptistery in Florence. Ghiberti’s
North Doors (his ¿ rst set of doors) for the Baptistery (c. 1403–1424) narrate
the life of Christ, the four evangelists, and the four theological fathers of the
Church. There are 28 panels with the quatrefoil design. Our example shows
The Flagellation, a symmetrical composition. These doors took 20 years to
complete, and they were such a success that Ghiberti received a commission
soon after for another set of doors for the third entrance to the Baptistery.Ghiberti’s East Doors (Gates of Paradise) (c. 1425–1452) were radically
different from the earlier ones. The 28 panels and the quatrefoil shape within
which the sculptural ¿ gures had been ¿ tted were abandoned. The new doors
had 10 panels, ¿ ve in each valve, and each panel was square. These larger
¿ elds were similar to those used in painting and allowed Ghiberti to develop
a style of relief sculpture with illusionistic architecture and space. Each panel
is completely gilded.The doors show 10 scenes from Genesis, reading from top left, across and
down. These include the creation of Adam and Eve through their expulsion
from Eden, followed by the stories of Cain and Abel, Abraham, and Jacob.