Isaac and His Sons by Ghiberti. East Doors, Florence Cathedral

In the beginning of the semester, we studied Pisano's Life of John the Baptist; the south doors of the baptistery of San Giovanni. While looking for something to blog about, I came across something that looked very similar to me. I soon found that they were so similar because they are on the same building but instead, the east doors.

Isaac and His Sons, is a bronze relief approximately seventeen feet high, located on the East Doors of the Florence Cathedral Baptistry. The artist, Ghiberti worked on this during the Early Italian Renaissance in Florence Italy. The work of art comes from the old testament of the Bible. It shows individuals from the ancient Israeli society. Isaac a patriarch, leading male of his society and his wife Rebecca had twin boys named Jacob and Esau. Esau, the older son was next in line to rule but Rebecca had a vision that she tricked her husband to make Jacob the next ruler instead, telling him it was a message from God. She was able to accomplish this because her through putting fur onto Jacob’s face to resemble Esau.

The historical style of the Early Italian Renaissance had become clear with the advance of naturalism, to show things more realistic to the human world and the continuing importance of Christianity. In the relief all of the figures dress in Greco Roman costumes, except for Jacob and Esau in Renaissance costume.