{"id":13,"date":"2008-08-07T19:25:25","date_gmt":"2008-08-07T18:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lnx.arttrav.com\/?p=13"},"modified":"2014-09-21T20:51:09","modified_gmt":"2014-09-21T18:51:09","slug":"the-baptistry-of-florence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arttrav.com\/florence\/the-baptistry-of-florence\/","title":{"rendered":"The Baptistry of Florence"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Baptistry of Florence<\/strong> is one of the city’s most central buildings – right in front of the Duomo with its famous dome by Brunelleschi<\/strong>. Let’s take a moment to learn more about the history and layout of this important building.<\/p>\n

\"fi_baptistry\"
Baptistry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Baptistry is defined as the locus for baptism. This is usually done inside churches in a baptismal font and does not require a separate building, but Florence <\/strong>(like Pisa) has separated out the parts of its Cathedral complex. We tend to think of the baptistry as a structure that completes the cathedral (Duomo) and Giotto’s belltower<\/strong> (campanile), but actually it was the FIRST structure on this spot!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Exterior of Florence’s Baptistry<\/h2>\n

Originally a large roman domus that was expanded in the 6th century to become a church, the structure was rennovated in the 11th century in the Romanesque style<\/strong>. This means that it takes some characteristics of Roman architecture, like pilasters and pediments (those triangles over the windows), but adds a Tuscan feel like the green and white marble alternation.<\/p>\n

Three sets of Doors<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Baptistry has three sets of bronze doors<\/strong>. Let’s get them straight before we get confused. Stand at the door of the Duomo (or picture yourself there) and these are where the doors are located.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • 1st doors: Andrea Pisano<\/strong>, 1330. These are on the left side of the Baptistry (looking at it from the Duomo). Also known as South Doors.<\/li>\n
  • 2nd doors: Lorenzo Ghiberti<\/strong>, 1403-24. These are on the right side of the building if you look at it from the Duomo. Also known as North Doors.<\/li>\n
  • Gates of Paradise<\/strong> (copy in place outside, originals in Museo dell’Opera del Duomo): Lorenzo Ghiberti<\/strong>, 1426-52. These are the big gilded doors that face the Duomo. Also known as East doors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"Andrea
    Lorenzo Ghiberti: North door (christ among the doctors)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The two earlier sets of doors, by Ghiberti and Pisano<\/strong>, are made to match each other (well, Ghiberti had to work with the shape chosen by the earlier sculptor). The artists were constrained to work in low relief within a “quattrefoil” shape, a cross between a diamond and a clover leaf. Andrea Pisano’s work reflects the style of Giotto<\/strong> in Santa Croce. He pairs down the scenes to basics. There are a lot of lovely details in this work, but his figures are somewhat stilted.<\/p>\n

    \"Lorenzo<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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