Nicola Pisano
Between the years of 1265, and 1268, Nicola Pisano sculpted a
pulpit that is located in the Siena Cathedral.
This octagonal pulpit is supported by nine columns that are made from
granite, marble, and an igneous rock called phorphyry. Each of these columns either atop a lion, or
a flat panel support this beautiful structure.
Upon the pulpit, there are seven scenes depicting the life of
Christ.
Two important panels upon the pulpit are the Massacre of the
Innocents, and the Crucifixion. The
Massacre of the Innocents is significant in depicting the mass killing of young
boys in Bethlehem to get around the prophecy that “the King of Jews” would
raise against King Herod and receive the throne. This scene is the only one that does not
include Jesus or his family. With a central spot on the pulpit, including
twenty-four boys, it shows Pisano’s interest in movement of humans in a scene.
Massacre of the Innocents
Siena Cathedral
Photo Credit: Cesilee Mazza
Just next to the scene of the
massacre, is the crucifixion of Christ.
In this scene, we see Christ on the cross with a new way of putting his
feet crossed and nailed to the cross.
Among Christ are mourners and onlookers including Mary, who is “physically
grieving.” The way Mary looks as though
she may faint, it exemplifies the Pisano’s understanding of human emotion, and
it clearly shows humanism. I found it
interesting the way that everyone is looking at Jesus on the cross, it is bone
chilling the emotion that is shown in one panel of this sculpture.
Crucifixion
Photo credit:Cesilee Mazza
Siena Cathedral
Lorenzo Ghiberti was born to Bartoluccio Ghiberti, who was a
goldsmith who taught the craft to his son.
When older, Lorenzo started doing more and more sculpting, and was
eventually invited by winning a competition to create doors for the Baptistery
of Florence. These doors depict scenes
from the Old Testament. The first scene
is of course a scene involving Adam and Eve, in which Vasari states: “it is
clear that Lorenzo tried to render their members as beautifully as he could.” When Vasari speaks about an artist, he almost
translates to the reader what the artist tells them with their art. Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise doors have
depicted the stories the way they were meant to be told. Although the doors are not located on the
baptistery, and are now renovated in a museum, they still hold the original
message, and symbol. Located on the east
of the baptistery, facing the cathedral was perfect for the walk between the
two structures.
Ghiberti on the north doors
Photo Credit: Cesilee Mazza
Florence, Italy
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