Vasari: Ghiberti

Gates of Paradise Photo by Madeline

Vasari’s commentary added a touch of humanism to the work for not only are they a beautiful set of doors, but they have a backstory, a time and a place where they were created. Instead of creating simple doors, expected and unassuming, Ghiberti created doors that have gone down in history, doors that are still being studied to this day. I believe that this is in part due to his passion. Ghiberti put all of his effort and time into the competition, bringing in townspeople and travelers in order to hear their opinions, carefully constructing the mold, and tediously polishing the bronze.  When the other competitors saw the care that he had put into his rendering of the Sacrifice of Isaac, namely Donatello and Filippo Brunelleschi, they knew that he should get the commission, for ‘both the public good and the private interest would be best served in this way.’

We elevate these artists to the status of ‘genius,’ we believe that they are masters and these pieces that have become famous works of art, were easy for them. In reality, they had trial and error. When Ghiberti first began on the doors, the casting did not turn out well and instead of losing his courage, he quickly recast. The Calimala who had subsidized the competition were so impressed with his work that they commissioned him for another, ones that would become what we know now as the Gates of Paradise.

Gates of Paradise Photo by Madeline

The Gates of Paradise, which open onto the paradiso of Santa Maria del Fiore, were the culmination of years of studying the statues of the ancient Romans. He divided the doors into ten panels; five on each side and onto these incorporated forty different scenes. This is truly a triumph for the complexity and planning that would have gone into this would have been extensive. The complexity is furthered by the development of linear perspective throughout each panel. This not only creates a sense of depth on the picture plane but also acts as an extension of the viewer’s space.  Even Michelangelo stood mesmerized by his doors, saying “They are so beautiful that they would be do nicely at the entrance to Paradise.” understanding of not only the human form, but of landscape and scale are what impress me most about Ghiberti. To be quite honest, I had studied the doors prior to this class, and was extremely excited to see them in person, but honestly had no idea how beautiful they were in person. Standing in front of them and taking in the sheer size of each panel, of the doors as a whole, was one of those moments where you almost want to be pinched because you cannot believe that you are they, that you are experiencing this for yourself.