Gates of paradise

These panels on the baptistery doors are actually reproductions of the originals by Ghiberti. The originals are now held in the Duomo Museum to keep them from deteriorating any further.

Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise is now on view at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This stunning cast portrays stories from the Old Testament.

Florence Baptistery - In 1425 Lorenzo Ghiberti got a commission for the East Doors of the baptistry, on which he and his workshop toiled for 27 years, excelling themselves.These doors have ten panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament, he employed the recently discovered principles of perspective to give depth to his compositions.The 10 panels are included in a richly decorated gilt framework of foliage and fruit, many statuettes of prophets and 24 busts. Michelangelo referred to these…

According to a reading from a newly digitized fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Noah's Ark was something different than what is currently believed.

the Florence Baptistery, the original home to Ghiberti's 'Gates of Paradise' and one of the city's most historic monuments - read the history and see pics!

How can you distinguish between the East and North doors?

The details are incredible, looks like lace!

Most doors are hopelessly mundane, but they don’t have to be; they can also serve as meaningful symbols of portals between worlds or between different aspects of our lives. Post pictures of the most exceptional doors you have ever seen!

The magnificent "Gates of Paradise": north doors of the Florence Baptistry; masterpiece by Lorenzo Ghiberti from the early 15th century.

Lorenzo Ghiberti, east doors (Gates of Paradise), baptistery, Florence, Italy, 1425-1452, Gilded bronze, 17' high. Modern copy, ca. 1980. Original panels in Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Florence.