The Gates of Paradise

The Lorenzo Ghiberti work “Gates of Paradise” shows many great examples of the attributes of design. One of the strongest things that show in this work of art is the use of line, and the weight of lines. These “doors” show massive strength and power by using very linear heavy weighted lines in strong dominant positions and color. But at the same time the lines in the detail work is small and delicate enough to ease off on the dominance of the larger lines and makes it easier to view and slightly less aggressive. This balance of strong lines and delicate scrollwork helps with what the relief depicts, several scenes from the Hebrew bible.

            The “Gates of Paradise” contains main reliefs that depict scenes, which measure about 30” wide by 30” tall, each which brings the total works size to about 15’ tall. My favorite part of this relief is the outside boarder. In its current state the outside border of the relief is black in appearance, which contrasts greatly with the gilded bronze that makes up the smaller reliefs. That contrast makes the outside frame appear even stronger. Another attribute that makes the boarder strong is the use of lines. Both the inside and outside line of the boarder is a solid straight line, which some rigid reliefs going inwards.

            But with all that strength it is balanced out slightly with delicate scrollwork reliefs that is inset in the centerlines of the boarder. Filled with organic shapes it breaks up the monotony and adds softness to an otherwise bold shape that is the border.

            Another thing to look at is the weight of the border. Due to the size of the border relative to the rest of the relief, it is relative large, making it seem “heavy”. This idea of “weight” is probably my favorite part of the design elements because it can swing the meaning of the object in question so much by just making one element a little bit heavier than the rest of the image.

            As for the inside of the relief, the ten panels are laid out in symmetrical 2x5 grid. On each of the four corners of each panel there is a medallion that creates a smaller frame outside the ten panels. As noted before the inside of the panel is gilded bronze so it makes it’s weight seem a little lighter than the rest of the relief. Also each panel is bordered by smaller black border that is slightly chamfered which provides depth and creates “leading lines” into each of the ten reliefs. At the same time the linear and symmetrical fashion that the panels are laid out in creates an easy path for the viewer to follow.

            As for the panels themselves the book offers a close up view of one of the ten panels. Inside of the relief it follows suit in terms of strong straight line and a balance of weight with the larger scope of the relief. Inside the enlarge panel in the book we see several strong heavily weighted line sin the architecture in the background. And in the foreground we see the idealized forms of humans. This idealized for of course carries with it organic shapes that, like the border of the relief, breaks up that background. Another thing to point out is that in terms of visual weight and relative scrollwork, or organic lines, to the amount of straight strong lines is almost the same in which ever scale you view it in. This relative relationship creates a wonderful balance throughout the overall piece of work.

            Another thing I wanted to point out in the panels is how the relief itself creates visual weight. The human forms in the foreground create shadows which in sense replicate the difference in color between the blackened border and the gilded panels. This difference in color is what I believe creates most of the visual weight in this relief.

            To sum the gates of paradise up, it is a perfect balance of strength and power too the more delicate and fragile side. The strong linear lines and the visual weight the contrast of the colors provide show this. The scrollwork and the organic forms within the panels ease the dominant and aggressive form of the relief and makes it easier for the viewer to look at. As well the linear and symmetrical fashion gives the viewer and easy tablature to read and understand the images portrayed in the panels.