When I was in Art History 101, my professor touted the
competition for the design of the Baptistry doors in Florence in 1401 as one of
the greatest historic art competitions of all time. In one corner we have the
young Lorenzo Ghiberti, only 21 at the time of the competition and the artist
who would be remembered for re-developing the lost-wax bronze casting art
technique that was once used by the ancient Romans. In the other corner is Filippo
Brunelleschi, lauded in his time for his theories of linear perspective and his
architectural feats.
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Sacrifice of Isaac
by Filippo
Brunelleschi, 1401-03.
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Sacrifice of Isaac
by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1401-03. |
Both artists submitted a panel showing the Sacrifice of Isaac, which was to be
judged by the guild holding the art contest in order to win the lucrative
commission for the Baptistry doors. Brunelleschi's panel is well crafted,
showing the saving angel resting a hand on Abraham's arm as he holds the knife
to Isaac's throat. The rest of the panel is fairly standard in terms of its
inclusions and presentation.
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Sacrifice of Isaac (detail)
by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1401-03. |
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Ghiberti's panel, as I was taught, made people stare. It was
a unique interpretation of the story as it shows the indecision of Abraham in
the moment just before he plunges the knife—his fluttering sleeve shows that he
is in the midst of a striking motion and the foreshortened body of the angel as
it thrusts its arm out makes it seem like there were only milliseconds to spare
before Isaac would indeed be sacrificed.
Ghiberti also gave a sense of the mount where Abraham
brought his son—the craggy hillock that makes a strong diagonal from left to
right on the panel recreates the environment where the story took place. And
then there is the body of Isaac—sturdy, young, and a testament to the
Renaissance ideal of the male form. All in all, there was quite a reaction to
Ghiberti's work, which is definitely a significant part of the reason he won
the commission.
I love this story. I always have. Mostly because it reiterates
that taking a new perspective on a story or a narrative that has been
illustrated countless times before can be done and can be done well. Innovation
can still exist for contemporary artists too. I take inspiration from Ghiberti
on that and I hope you do the same! And to celebrate all the innovation I know
you have within you, we are having an Artist Daily Store Sale, which is going
on right now. Use the code LOVEART and seize all the instruction you are drawn
to and get those inspirational juices flowing. Enjoy!
