The Baptistery of San Giovanni: The Origins of Renaissance Art: The Baptistery Doors, Florence - Hardcover

Paolucci, Antonio

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0807614130 ISBN 13: 9780807614136

Publisher: George Braziller Inc., 2007

Synopsis

Take an amazing armchair tour of The Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence, Italy. The Baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in the city, constructed between 1059 and 1128 in the Florentine Romanesque style. It influenced the development of architecture, and formed the basis from which Filippo Brunelleschi, and the others created Renaissance architecture. This is a lush two-volume set bound in silk cloth. Volume one is a full color photographic atlas of the entire historic structure. Volume two is detailed history of the art and architecture in English and Italian. The Baptistery is renowned for its three sets of artistically important bronze doors with relief sculptures. The south doors were done by Andrea Pisano and the north and east doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The east doors were dubbed by Michelangelo the Gates of Paradise. The poet Dante and many members of the Medici family, were baptized in this baptistery.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

This lavish volume - containing comprehensive texts and 294 full color illustrations - serves as an essential and much-needed introduction to the carved bronze doors of Florence's Baptistery, a landmark of Renaissance art. When Florence took cultural command of Italy early in the fifteenth century, inaugurating the Renaissance and establishing itself as the intellectual and artistic capital of southern Europe, one of the key signposts in the new movement was the competition for a design for the east doors of the Baptistery in 1401-02. Andrea Pisano had designed the south doors of the same structure almost three generations earlier. Now, the greatest sculptors of the age - among them Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi - submitted their versions of the sacrifice of Isaac. Ghiberti's more elegant and cohesive version was ultimately selected; his completed doors would, in the end, establish him as one of the most sought-after artists of his day.

About the Author:

Antonio Paolucci is the Italian Minister of Culture.

About this edition

• Publisher: George Braziller Inc.
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0807614130
• ISBN 13: 9780807614136
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1240