Ghiberti, Lorenzo
1378–1455
Italian artist

Known primarily as a sculptor, Lorenzo Ghiberti achieved success in a variety of artistic fields. In the early 1400s he was the leading caster of bronze sculptures and statues in the city of Florence. He also worked as a goldsmith, architect, and writer. Many major artists of the age, including Donatello, assisted Ghiberti or spent time in his busy, well-organized workshop.

Trained as a goldsmith, Ghiberti entered a competition in the winter of 1400–1401 to design bronze doors for the Florence Baptistery*. The young artist received the commission to make the doors, and by 1424 he had produced 24 bronze panels illustrating saints and themes from the New Testament of the Bible. Ghiberti's style developed as he worked on the panels. The earlier ones reflect the artistic trends of Florence in the early 1400s, with graceful lines and elegantly posed figures. The later ones show more skillful use of relief* and greater appearance of depth in the backgrounds.

Between 1413 and 1429 Ghiberti created three bronze statues for the Orsanmichele, a public building that served as a center for Florence's guilds*. The first, St. John the Baptist, is notable for the rich draperies arranged in gracefully curving folds about the figure. The second, St. Matthew, reflects the styles of ancient art with its emphasis on the structure of the body. The final piece, St. Stephen, features a graceful pose and sweet expression that contrast with the classical* style of the second statue.

In 1425 Ghiberti returned to the Florence Baptistery to create a second bronze door. This project included ten panels on Old Testament subjects. The larger size of the panels on this door allowed Ghiberti to create greater illusions of depth and space and wider range of detail in the backgrounds. Other major works of Ghiberti's later career include bronze reliefs for the Baptistery in the nearby city of Siena and a shrine to St. Zenobius for the cathedral of Florence. The artist also played a role in the planning of the cathedral, advising on the construction of the dome and designing the building's stained-glass windows.

Around 1447 Ghiberti began writing his Commentaries, a three-part work on art. The first part discusses ancient art, the second covers the art of his day (including his own works), and the third comments on the sciences a sculptor must master. However, Ghiberti's greatest legacy was his graceful sculpture, which influenced artists such as Benvenuto Cellini.

(See alsoArt in Italy. )

* baptistery

building where baptisms are performed

* relief

type of sculpture in which figures are raised slightly from a flat surface

* guild

association of craft and trade owners and workers that set standards for and represented the interests of its members

* classical

in the tradition of ancient Greece and Rome