Lorenzo Ghiberti (c. 1378 - 1455): Artist and Entrepreneur

Dr. Gary Radke

When Lorenzo Ghiberti wrote that “few things of importance were made in our city that were not designed or devised by my hand” he was hardly boasting. Ghiberti’s creative energies spanned the entire first half of the fifteenth century, and he made a decisive impact on Florentine architecture, goldsmithing, painting, stained glass, and bronze. This four-week course will introduce you to Ghiberti’s fascinating life, his crucial role in the development of Renaissance art, his highly profitable business practices, and his literary achievements, too.

LECTURE 1: "Lorenzo Ghiberti: A Talent for Charm"
In this overview of Ghiberti’s biography, learn how the silver-tongued artist talked his way to success. See how Ghiberti rarely found a deadline he could not extend, a contract he could not enhance, or a tight situation he could not talk himself out of. No wonder he was the first artist to write an autobiography.

LECTURE 2: "1401-1424: The Competition Panels and the North Doors of the Florentine Baptistery"
Rivalry and competition were central to Renaissance creativity. See how Ghiberti outwitted Brunelleschi and then stretched what everyone thought would be a four- or five-year project into decades of well-compensated creativity.

LECTURE 3: "1410-1429 Ghiberti at Orsanmichele"
Concurrent with his work at the Florentine Baptistery, Ghiberti enhanced the civic granary of Orsanmichele with new architectural details, designs for stained glass, and three life-sized bronze statues. Witness how Ghiberti competed with Donatello in defining new concepts for Renaissance statuary.

LECTURE 4: "Making, Restoring, and Displaying the Gates of Paradise"
From 1425 to 1452 Ghiberti created a gilt bronze door so splendid and revolutionary that Michelangelo later dubbed it the Gates of Paradise. Learn what makes the Gates so special and how modern science and museology have extended its life well into the future.