Reliefs, South Doors, Florence Baptistry

The Florence Baptistry (a copyrighted image, thus gray scale and not clickable) Pisano's doors are at the doorway visible on the left. These bronze doors were commissioned by the Calimala, the guild responsible for the maintenance and decoration of the Baptistry, perhaps imagining a grand doorway, like those in Pisa or Venice. Prior to this, large scale casting had not been done in Florence. Little is known for certain about Andrea's background. It is clear he had been a goldsmith, but this is his first authenticated large work. (It is signed and dated at the top.)
	The South Doors The doors are comprised of two valves, each with 14 square panels. Twenty of the panels depict events from the life of John the Baptist while eight at the bottom are personifications of virtues. The twenty scenes relating to John the Baptist read chronologically from top to bottom and from left to right--on each valve. (That is, like pages of an open book, they read individually and not across "pages.")
The borders of the doors by ? The borders of the reliefs have lozenge-shaped studs, rosettes, and lions at each of the corners (the marzocco, the symbol of Florence). Rows of dentils are just inside the frames. The external borders to the doors proper have figurative designs as well as foliate ribbons. I have not been able to find a source explaining who did these borders. It is unlikely that such accomplished, almost Mannerist figures were done by Pisano. If you know who designed and/or executed them, please write me at the address below.
John the Baptist was the patron saint of baptistries as well as the patron saint of the city of Florence. The first six scenes depict the birth and youth of the Baptist while the next four show his public ministry, culminating in the baptism of Jesus. Like Giotto, Andrea Pisano depicts volumetric bodies with robes that help define the body (not conceal it). A kind of early realism is evident in the dynamic between some of his figures (see Herod and Salome below) and in the emotions and expressions of some of the figures. Contrast the naturalism of Pisano's portrayal with that of the mosaics on the lowest tier in the Baptistery. Although the scenes depicted are similar, Pisano's portrayal forecasts the Renaissance understanding and depiction of the body.

Schema of the South Doors
Angel announces to Zachariah	Zachariah is struck mute	St. John reprimands Herod Antipas	Incarceration of St. John
Visitation	Birth of the Baptist	Disciples visit St. John	Disciples visit Jesus
In the relief depicting John's disciples visiting him in prison, it is notable that John is not present. An important source for art about John the Baptist was an anonymous 14th century life of the Baptist. In it, in this scene John was inside the prison praying, which explains why he is absent.
Zachariah writes the boy's name	St. John as boy in desert	Dance of Salome	Decapitation of St. John
In the naming of the Baptist, the woman presenting the child is the Virgin Mary. (She has a halo.) In the Biblical version of the story she is not present. However, in the apocryphal tradition, she was present at his birth. Her presence signifies a special honor to the baby John. Note the rhythmic drapery folds in the garments of the figures. Salome has an identifiable coiffure as well as a distinctive headband (tiara?).
Preaching to the Pharisees	St. John announces Christ	Presentation of St. John's head to Herod Antipas	Salome takes head to Herodias
Baptism of his disciples	Baptism of Jesus	Transport of St. John's body	Burial of St. John
The baptism of Christ is depicted as so sacred that only an angel was present. The classical nude body of Christ demonstrates Pisano's mastery of anatomy. Note that in the death and burial of John the Baptist the same six disciples are present both carrying the corpse and placing the body in a sarcophagus. The head seems to be reattached in the transporting scene--perhaps out of a sense of decorum. An elaborate Gothic canopy is above the tomb of the Baptist.
Personifications of virtues The bottom two rows depict personifications of virtues seated on benches with identifying inscriptions and the usual attributes. From left to right on one row across both valves are the Theological virtues: Hope, Faith, Charity, with the addition of Humility. Pisano needed a fourth virtue for the layout but Humility was a relevant choice. Historically this is a time when mendicant orders, which stressed simplicity and humility, were influential and it is also a time when two important churches of mendicant orders were built--Santa Croce (Franciscan) and Santa Maria Novella (Domenican). Under these four virtues are the Cardinal virtues: Fortitude, Temperance, Justice and Prudence. Charity holds a flaming heart up to God (I think, representing love of God as a burning fire) and also holds a cornucopia, a symbol of earthly charity. Humility has a downward glance and holds (what?); justice has the typical symbols--the sword indicating her power and the scales her impartiality. She is not blindfolded, however, an attribute that only goes back to the 16th century; in antiquity, justice was known for her clear-sightedness.
Hope	Faith	Charity	Humility
Fortitude and Temperance		Justice and Prudence

See also Ghiberti's doors for the north entrance of the Baptistry.

See also Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise.

See also interior of the Baptistery.

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