Lecture Notes: Ghiberti's The Gates of Paradise

Introduction

• Location: Museum of the Works of the Cathedral of Florence
• Focus: Ghiberti's The Gates of Paradise
• Initial Misconception: Despite being in the museum for the cathedral, these doors are not for it but for the baptistry.
• Importance: Baptistry was central for baptisms in Florence, octagonal in shape.

Historical Context

• Named by Michelangelo who likened their beauty to "the doors of heaven."
• Last set of bronze doors for the baptistry.
  • First set by Andrea Pisano focused on the life of St. John the Baptist.
  • Second set by Ghiberti at the beginning of his career.
• Competition: Ghiberti won a competition against Brunelleschi to cast these doors.

Location and Conservation

• Initially intended for the north side, moved to the east side facing the cathedral due to their beauty.
• Recent conservation efforts have restored their original gilding and detail.

Patronage

• Commissioned by the wealthiest guild of Florence, the wool merchants.
• Significance of doors in sculpture: Historical focus on door carvings in medieval cathedrals and ancient Rome.

Artistic Details

• Compared to earlier gothic doors with quatrefoil designs:
  • Ghiberti's doors feature 10 square scenes.
  • Shift towards creating an entire world within the space, reflecting Renaissance confidence and artistic capability.
• Influence of Linear Perspective:
  • Developed by Brunelleschi, allowing convincing illusion of space.
  • Use of relief sculpture, with figures transitioning from full form to lines.
  • Influence traced back to Donatello's Rilievo Schiacciato technique.

Narrative and Design

• Old Testament Scenes: 10 scenes from Genesis, including creation and the story of Esau and Jacob.
  • Example: Story of Esau and Jacob depicted in multiple moments within a single frame.

Artistic and Architectural Elements

• Return to Classical Tradition: Clarity of line and geometry.
• Architectural Features: Round arches, Corinthian capitals, contrapposto stance.
• Use of Linear Perspective: Orthogonals leading to vanishing point, creating believable space.

Conclusion

• Ghiberti's doors exemplify early Renaissance interests in space and the human body.
• Masterpiece of clarity, narrative depiction, and architectural integration.