Lorenzo Ghiberti
"The Gates of Paradise"
Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
Lorenzo Ghiberti Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba Renaissance Values
Lorenzo Ghiberti was born in Florence, Italy in 1378. As he grew up he worked in his father's goldsmith workshop, and also received training in sculpting and painting. He first became famous when in 1401, he won a competition for the bronze doors of the cathedral in Florence, beating competition of several famous artists including Brunelleschi. He was commissioned to make a set of bronze doors with 28 panels with scenes from the New Testament. He set up a large workshop to carry out this task, where many artists trained, including Donatello and Masolino. After he finished the first set of doors in 1424, he began working on the second set in 1425. These doors were to depict 10 scenes from the Old Testament. This set of doors, which was later called "The Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo, took more than 20 years to finish, but was one of his greatest works of art. In fact, Auguste Rodin's Gates f Hell, and Raphael's School of Athens were thought to be inspired by these doors.1 Later in his life he was commissioned by the Merchant's guild to execute many monumental gilded bronze statues including John the Baptist and St. Matthew.
Besides being an artist he was a collector of classical artifacts and was actively involved in the spreading of humanistic ideas. Ghiberti was also an author, but died before he could finish his book, Commentari. Commentari provides a valuable source of information about Renaissance art, and contains the first ever autobiography of an artist. This book was a major source for Vasari's Vite.2 Ghiberti died in 1455, leaving behind a wife and two sons, and is buried in the church of Santa Croce. For more information on Ghiberti's life and works click here.
2
The Meeting of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is located in the San Giovanni Baptistery of
Florence on the bottom right corner of "The Gates of Paradise". The
Gates of Paradise are made up of ten rectangular scenes from the Old Testament,
made from gilded bronze. These doors took Ghiberti more than 25 years to
complete, from 1425-1452, and are 506 cm tall, with a width of 287 cm.
Ghiberti and his main rival, Brunelleschi, were two of the artists that sparked the Renaissance.3 As Ghiberti grew in age, his "Renaissance skills" also grew. This is apparent in the doors he made for the cathedral in Florence. His first set of doors depicting scenes from the New Testament was his transition piece. These set of doors were more Gothic in style with only slight emphasis on Renaissance values. His second set of doors though, "The Gates of Paradise", was a major step into the Renaissance style. These doors, based on ancient Roman art, depicts the many values of the Renaissance, including pictures of antiquity, classical balance, harmony, and restraint.
The Meeting of King
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is one of the panels that best
depict
these values. Right above this panel to the left is a self portrait of Ghiberti
which is a perfect example of individualism. Another example of individualism is
of the many places on the panel where you can see people either playing
instruments, or holding animals, placing emphasis on each individual's own
talents. As you first look at this panel you
can see everything is balanced. King Solomon and Queen Sheba are located in the
center, with the others spread around them. Although there is no color, there is
a great contrast of light and dark. Also there is great sense of depth and
perspective in the background, and you can see Roman columns holding up the
arches (antiquity).
Ghiberti was also one
of the main artists that delved into realism.4 In this panel the
bodies
are more natural and proportional, and not perfect, like the style of art that came before. This
allowed Ghiberti to use facial expressions and gestures to make this panel come
alive.
Although better than his first, here on his second set of doors, Ghiberti is not at the height of his Renaissance skill. This is apparent in the tall pointed Gothic arches. As you look at these doors, though, you can see why Michelangelo called them "The Gates of Paradise".
1Lorenzo Ghiberti, 2007. Wikipedia, 13 Jan. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Ghiberti.
2Lorenzo Ghiberti, 2007. Wikipedia, 13 Jan. 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Ghiberti.
3Paul Walker, The Feud that Sparked the Renaissance (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002) title page.
4Lorenzo Ghiberti, 2007. Encyclopędia Britannica, 24 Jan. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9036695.
"Ghiberti, Lorenzo." Encyclopędia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopędia Britannica Online. 24 Jan. 2007 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9036695>.
"Ghiberti." Encyclopedia of Italian Renaissance and Mannerist Art. 2000 edition. 2000.
"Lorenzo Ghiberti." Wikipedia. 13 Jan. 2007. 20 Jan. 2007 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorenzo_Ghiberti>.
Walker, Paul. The Feud that sparked the Renaissance. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2002.
Images
1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ghiberti.png
2.http://jameswagner.com/mt_archives/Ghibertigates.jpg
3.http://imgserver.artstor.net/aic/d0018/00185001.fpx?cell=1024,1024&rgnn=0,0,1,1&cvt=JPEG
4.http://imgserver.artstor.net/aic/d0018/00185001.fpx?
5.http://imgserver.artstor.net/aic/d0018/00185001.fpx?
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