Escape to myself

This morning I awoke a little later than usual. I didn’t realise how tired I was. I had booked tickets for the museum and the Baptistery as the weekend is free. It’s a little drizzly today but very warm. The museum is excellent. To preserve them many of the original sculptures together with Ghiberti’s fabulous Baptistery doors are now in the museum with replicas in their place on the building itself. Everything is so well presented and gives a real insight into the art, architecture and life of the Duomo.

The Baptistery doors by Ghiberti

These are truly amazing. Made in the early fifteenth century, the skill and craftsmanship is a testament to a great artist. The perspective in each panel is amazing and the detail unbelievable … except seeing is believing. The doors imitate the design of earlier doors by Pisano made a century earlier. They really are one of the wonders of Florence and Renaissance art.

The other great sculptor represented her is Donatello. There are many pieces by him and his workshop. The singing gallery now moved from the Duomo to the museum is magnificent. Again full of detail and an astonishing tour de force of the stonemason’s art.

Sculpture by Pisano

Donatello’s singing gallery

The construction of the cathedral

The museum contains many original models of the cathedral and its construction and also some of the original tools used in its building. Pretty incredible.

The Baptistery

Unfortunately the baptistery ceiling is being restored but it is still an interesting building and built on the octagonal model to be seen in Ravenna and Many other Italian cities. The mosaics of the interior are beautiful and of course the doors now in the Museo are wonderful.