Episode I: The Competition Panels by Ghiberti and Brunelleschi

Teacher

The Competition Panels by Ghiberti and Brunelleschi

The competition of 1401 for the contract for a set of bronze doors for Florence Baptistery is generally considered the event that kicked off the Renaissance. Firstly, because of the date of the competition, which coincides with the chronological beginnings of the Renaissance. Secondly, because of the artists involved – Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi – who were two of the greatest of the Renaissance. Finally, because competition amongst great artists would become one the central leitmotifs of the Italian Renaissance. This lecture will explore how each artist brought his own unique vision and style to his work, and why sometimes losing actually means winning.

Video Features

Lectures 1
Quizzes 0
Duration 12 minutes
Skill level All levels
Language English
Students 11
Assessments Yes

Rocky Ruggiero, Ph.D.

Rocky Ruggiero has been a professor of Art and Architectural History since 1999. He received his BA from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University, where he was awarded a prestigious Florence Fellowship in 1996. He furthered his art historical studies at the University of Exeter, UK, where he received a Ph.D. in Art History and Visual Culture. In addition to lecturing for various American universities in Florence, Italy, including Syracuse, Kent State, Vanderbilt, and Boston College, Rocky has starred in various TV documentaries concerning the Italian Renaissance. He has appeared as an expert witness in the History Channel’s “Engineering an Empire: Da Vinci’s World” and “Museum Secrets: the Uffizi Gallery”, as well as the recent NatGeo/NOVA PBS program on Brunelleschi’s dome entitled “Great Cathedral Mystery.”