Essay About Lorenzo Di Bartolo And Ghibertis Greatest Work

Lorenzo Ghiberti
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LORENZO GHIBERTI
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Lorenzo Ghiberti was born as Lorenzo di Bartolo in 1378 in Florence, Italy. His
mothers second husband, Bartolo di Michele trained Lorenzo as a goldsmith. Ghiberti
also received training as a painter. According to his autobiography, he left Florence in
1400 to work with a painter in the town of Pesaro for its ruler, Sigismondo Malatesta.
His education as a goldsmith helped him create his greatest piece of work, “The Gates of
Paradise.”
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
Ghibertis big break came when he went back to Florence in 1401 after hearing
that a competition was being held for the commission
to make a pair of bronze doors for
the Baptistery of the cathedral in Florence. He beat Filippo Brunelleschi and Jacopo dellla
Quercia, as well as four other artists, to win the commission
. He spent more than 20 years
to make the doors, but during that time he trained students and also concentrated on other
artwork. His students include Donatello and Paulo Uccello. Each door contains 14
quatrefoil-framed scenes from the lives of Christ, the Evangelists, and the church fathers.
He also made another set of doors for the Baptistery. These bronze doors had 5 panels on
each side, containing scenes from the Old Testament. They were dubbed ” The Gates of
Paradise,” by Michaelangelo, and were Ghibertis greatest work. Ghiberti also made a
larger than life statue of the Arte dei Mercani di Calimalas(the guild of the merchant
bankers) patron saint. He made two large bronze figures for Or San Michele, created
designs for the stained glass windows in the cathedral, and wrote two books, as well as
accomplishing other things.
IMPACT AND INFLUENCE ON CIVILIZATION
Ghiberti impacted the Renaissance in many ways. His work and writings formed
the basis for much of the style and aims of the later High Renaissance. He was actively
involved with other artists and was interested in their works. He influenced and trained
artists in his workshop. Some of his students included Donatello, Paulo Uccello,
Michelozzo, and Benozzo Gozzoli. Many artist took notice to his style. His works show
a development toward naturalistic movement, volume, perspective, and a greater
idealization of the subject, which influenced artists to be creative. Ghiberti was a well
respected gentlemen, and a major figure in Florentine society. He was rich and generous
to all, and never turned away a painter or person who needed help in any sort of way.