Gates of Paradise, Renaissance relief sculpture at Florence Baptistery, Italy
The Gates of Paradise are a Renaissance relief sculpture at the Florence Baptistery in Italy. The work displays ten rectangular panels showing Old Testament episodes, framed by heads in circular niches and floral bands of cast metal.
Lorenzo Ghiberti started the doors in 1425 after a competition and completed them only 27 years later with help from his workshop. The long working time allowed him to develop new techniques and revise earlier designs.
A 16th-century Florentine poet gave the doors their name by comparing them to the entrance of Paradise. Visitors today notice the golden patina of the material, which shifts under changing light and adds extra depth to the biblical scenes.
The original doors now sit in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo a short walk away, while reproductions stand at the Baptistery. Those who want to compare both versions can view the replica outside first and then visit the museum.
Ghiberti used different relief heights within the same scene, so foreground figures appear almost freestanding while background elements stay flat. This gradation strengthens the spatial illusion without color or shadow and was a new approach at the time.
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