Baptistry of St. John

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Baptistery of St. John is in Florence, Italy. It was built between 1059 and 1128 which makes it one the oldest buildings in the city. Many believed that it was originally a Roman Temple that was dedicated the tutelary god, Mars. The baptistry is shaped like an octagon and is located in the Piazza del Duomo. It is mainly constructed out of sandstone and marble.

The baptistry is known for its three bronze doors that were sculpted by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The doors where named by Michelangelo " the Gates of Paradise" and were said to have begun the Renaissance. The south doors have 28 panels. The top 20 depict the life of St. John the Baptist and the 8 lower "picture the eight virtues of hope, faith, charity, humility, fortitude, temperance, justice and prudence." The north doors have also have 28 panels. Ghiberti worked for 21 years to complete them. The top 20 panels depict biblical scenes from the New Testament. With the lower 8 showing the four evangelists and the Church Fathers. The east doors took 27 years to complete and have only 10 panels that depict scenes from the Old Testament. The Interior is quite dark and has a mosaic tile floor and ceiling.

By: Jeanette Wallentine