Sacrifice of Isaac

Year: 1452

Artist: Lorenzo Ghiberti

Location: Museo Dell’ Opera del Duomo: Florence, Italy

Medium: Bronze 

“Now it came about that after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him,  “Abraham!”, and he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains… Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heavven and said, “Abraham! Abraham! And he said, “Here I am.”  He said do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fea God.” ~ Genesis 22: 1-2 & 10-12

The Sacrifice of Isaac was created by Lorenzo Ghiberti an artist who specialized in bronze artwork. He was the son of a goldsmith and he learned the trade form his father. As he grew and learned his trade more he realized that he was more fond of scultures, delicate design and bronze scultpures than what his father did. He eventually left home due to the plague; he traveled the world and found other artists who could help him perfect his techneque of sculpting. Eventually the plague sceased and the opportunity presented itself for Ghiberti to return to Florence. The San Giovanni doors were in need of completion, therefore a competion was held to determin which art master should be the one to have the honor of sculpting them. Ghiberti rose to the challenge, he threw all other obligations aside and focused simply on this one task. He knew it would mean instant recongnition for him and would leave a lasting impression for the rest of his life and further. Therefore, even though he was much younger than the rest of the competitors he entered with determination and confidance for the task.

The scene to create for the cometion was the Sacrifice of Isaac due to the complexity I all its emements. While this competition went on Ghiberti did something that none of his fellow contestants did, instead of hiding his work from all around him for fear that others would steal his ideas, he reached out to the public to see what they wanted from him. This piece of art was so important to him that he was not willing to leave it all on his shoulders to create. Therefore, while his fellow artists were making their mistakes secretly, Ghiberti was accepting the criticism of others and perfecting his art.

At the end of the competion each of the artists shoed exelence in their individual art pieces. Each portrayed their mastery of the trade, their skill at sculpting, and their eye for detail. However, dispite their masterpieces there was one that trumped them all, it was the only one where no flaws could be found in it and the only one that was most liked by the judges, fellow artists and townspeople. Ghiberti’s fished product proved to be his own gateway into fame as a scutpure, his name would be forever remembered and he would be ranked amoung the great for the rest of his life and beyond.