The Sacrifice of Isaac
Relief
ca. 1401-1402 (made), ca. 1871 (cast)
ca. 1401-1402 (made), ca. 1871 (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is an electrotype copy of the original fifteenth century panel executed by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455). In 1401, the Arte di Calimala (the guild of the merchant dealing in foreign cloth and export) decided to commission a second bronze door for the baptistery of Florence, to accompany the door completed by Andrea Pisano sixty-four years earlier. A competition was held for which seven competitors submitted trial reliefs of the Sacrifice of Isaac. The copy here is of Ghiberti's competition entry which was chosen in preference to that of his nearest rival, Filippo Brunelleschi. On the strength of this, Ghiberti was awarded the commission for the Baptistry. The original of this relief is now in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello) Florence.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Sacrifice of Isaac (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Electrotype |
| Brief description | Relief, electrotype, the Sacrifice of Isaac, copy of the competition panel for the bronze Baptistry door, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, 1401-2, the original held in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello) Florence, cast by Giovanni Franchi, ca. 1871 |
| Physical description | Electrotype copy of the gilt bronze door in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello), Florence made for the Baptistry of Florence by Lorenzo Ghiberti showing The Sacrifice of Isaac. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from Giovanni Franchi in 1871 for £7. |
| Historical context | In 1401, the Arte di Calimala (the guild of the merchants dealing in foreign cloth and export) decided to commission a second bronze door for the Baptistry of Florence, to accompany the door completed by Andrew Pisano sixty-four years earlier. A competition was held for which seven competitors submitted trial reliefs of the Sacrifice of Isaac. The copy here is of Ghiberti's competition entry which was chosen in preference to that of his nearest rival, Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446). On the strength of this, Ghiberti was awarded the commission for the Baptistry doors, which he executed between 1403 and 1424. |
| Production | Electrotype reproduction of fifteenth century original (ca. 1401-2) |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is an electrotype copy of the original fifteenth century panel executed by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455). In 1401, the Arte di Calimala (the guild of the merchant dealing in foreign cloth and export) decided to commission a second bronze door for the baptistery of Florence, to accompany the door completed by Andrea Pisano sixty-four years earlier. A competition was held for which seven competitors submitted trial reliefs of the Sacrifice of Isaac. The copy here is of Ghiberti's competition entry which was chosen in preference to that of his nearest rival, Filippo Brunelleschi. On the strength of this, Ghiberti was awarded the commission for the Baptistry. The original of this relief is now in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello) Florence. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | REPRO.1871-30 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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