North Doors of the Florence Baptistery, Relief sculpture entrance at Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence, Italy.
The North Doors are a bronze door pair at the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence, Italy, originally created for the baptistery. The surface is divided into twenty-eight quatrefoil panels arranged in seven horizontal rows, reaching a height of approximately 16.6 feet (506 cm).
Lorenzo Ghiberti began work on these doors in 1403 after winning a competition against other artists of his time, including Brunelleschi. Completion came in 1424 and marked a turning point in Renaissance sculpture.
The panels show different biblical narratives: the upper rows feature evangelists and church fathers, while the lower panels depict episodes from the life of Christ. This arrangement guides the eye from theological foundations down to the concrete events of redemption.
The original doors now rest in the museum, while reproductions stand at the baptistery itself. Visitors wishing to compare both versions should view the replicas at the original site first, then visit the museum.
The frames between the panels are filled with tiny sculpted details: leaves, fruit, animals, and insects enliven the spaces. At each intersection point, small heads of prophets also appear, filling the entire frame with life.
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