Ambo of the Cathedral of Pisa, Marble pulpit in Pisa Cathedral, Italy
The ambo of Pisa Cathedral is a marble reading stand with colorful columns and decorative capitals that support allegorical figures and detailed carvings of biblical stories. Its structure rises as a decorated platform with relief scenes covering its surfaces.
Giovanni Pisano carved this marble reading stand between 1301 and 1311, when Pisa was showing its wealth through grand artistic works. The piece was created during a period when the city held influence through maritime trade and artistic patronage.
The carved scenes show Christ's birth, the visit of the Magi, and the Crucifixion, telling Christian stories through stone that worshippers could understand and remember.
The work sits inside the cathedral on the right side of the main aisle and is easy to find from the church entrance. Visitors can view it from different angles, and the cathedral's natural light helps show the carving details clearly.
The carved figures show muscular bodies and active movement, looking quite different from the stiff figures typical of the medieval period. This more lifelike approach was unusual for its time and pointed toward a new way of making sculpture.
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