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The Baptitery is one of the oldest buildings in Florence although it is impossible to exactly determine the period. In the Middle Ages, it was believed to be a Roman pagan temple dedicated to Mars. Its balanced geometrical layout and decorations in white and green marble from Prato originates from the harmonious intergration of Romaneque and Paleochristian architecture developed during between the 11th and 13th centuries.
The external sculptures and basreliefs above the doors and on the doors themselves are the most important works ever made in Tuscany. The gilded bronze doors were made respectively by Andrea Pisano in 1336 (the door now facing south) and by Lorenzo Ghiberti in 1427 and in 1452 (the two doors facing to the north and east). The latter door is known with the name of Gate of “Paradise” and represents one of the best artistic results ever achieved by the artist, who combines the rhythms of the late Gothic period to a newly learnt classical language. The original gate has now been removed for restoration and replaced with a copy. The restored panels are exhibited in the "Museo dell´Opera del Duomo". The marble sculptures above the doors were sculptured by Francesco Rustici (1474-1554) ("Preaching of the Baptist") and Vincenzo Danti (1530-1576) ("Beheading of the Baptist") and by Andrea Sansovino (the "Baptism of Christ", which is a copy, since the original work will be exhibitedin in the "Museo dell´Opera del Duomo").
In addition to the inlaid floor (end of 12th century and beginning of 13th century), the interior displays some large mosaics on the apse and ceiling. All the mosaics have a gilded background and were made between 1266 and the beginning of the 14th century by Byzantine artists from Venice, with the collaboration of vigorous Tuscans like Meliore, Coppo di Marcovaldo and above all Cimabue (re. 1272-1302), the master of Giotto.
Other works of sculpture include the tomb of Giovanni XXIII, the Anti-Pope died in Florence in 1426 that was designed by Donatello and Michelozzo. The beautiful and ascetic wooden "Magdalene" sculptured by Donatello and originally exhibited in the Baptistery is currently displayed in the "Museo dell´Opera del Duomo". |
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View of the ceiling - Mosaic XIIth century- Detail
Click on picture to enlarge |
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Tomb of Antipope John XXIII |
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The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the oldest astronomical places
in the city of Florence.
Already around the 1000 was placed a marble inlaid at the door North
which is one of the oldest astronomical Florentine documents.
This is a "gnomon" which demonstrates the interest for the apparent motion
of the Sun: through a hole in the dome, solar radiation affecting the
signs of the Zodiac engraved on marble, thus allowing it to control the
path of the sun during the year.
Author of the work may have been the leader and medieval astrologer
Strozzo Strozzi.
During the thirteenth century, following a remake of the floor,
the marble was moved in the eastern part of the Baptistery, so today is no longer possible to assess its accuracy. |
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Gate of "Paradise" by Ghiberti, 1435 - 1452
The original panels are now in the
Museo dell' Opera del Duomo.
Michelangelo had judged the door worthy of paradise
but not for this reason the door has this name.
The door name paradise stems from the fact that in the Middle Ages, every year during the procession dedicated to St.John the Baptist, the converts came to be anointed in the Baptistery just from that door and then earned the paradise.
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Gate of "Paradise" Personages in the frames |
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Panels of the South Portal
by Andrea da Pontedera (Pisano) - 1336
HISTORIES OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
Transport of the body of St. John - Burial
Click on picture to enlarge
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Panels of the North Portal, first door
by Ghiberti - 1424
HISTORIES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
Chasing the merchants from the Temple -
Dispute with the doctors
Click on picture to enlarge |
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The original marble arrangement above the Door of Paradise
by Andrea Sansovino
- The Baptism of Christ -
Museo dell' Opera del Duomo
Click on picture to enlarge |
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Giovan Francesco Rustici
The group of St. John le Baptist Preaching to a Pharisee and a Levite
These statues were placed above the North Door of the Baptistery.
Now in Museo dell' Opera del Duomo
According to Vasari "Leonardo da Vinci provide himself in sculpture with these bronze figure which were axecuted by Giovan Francesco Rustici but finisced whith Leonardo's advice"
Click on picture to enlarge
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