Photos of the Florence Baptistry Mosaic Art & Bronze Doors

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Photos of the Florence Baptistry Mosaic Art & Bronze Doors. The incredible Romanesque Art of the Florence Baptistry. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.  (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Florence Baptistry Mosaic Art & Bronze Doors

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Photos of the Florence Baptistry Mosaic Art & Bronze Doors (Battistero di San Giovanni).

The Baptistry of the Florence Cathedral is an octagonal building that stands before the main doors of the Duomo in the Piazza di San Giovanni.

The Oldest Building in Florence

It is one of the oldest buildings in Florence being built between 1059 and 1128 in a Romanesque style and it is renowned for its three sets of important bronze doors with bas relief sculptures.

Every important and noteworthy Florentine from the middle ages to the 19th century was baptised in the Baptistry. The poet Dante Alighieri and the members of the Medici family were all baptised in the Baptistry.

Octagonal Baptistry

In the middle ages many octagonal Baptistries were built, the number 8 representing the 6 days of creation, a day of rest and a day of re-creation through the sacrament of Baptism.

Byzantine Style Mosaic

The interior ceiling of the Baptistry is covered with Byzantine style mosaics made by Venetian craftsmen who started the work in 1225 under the direction of Franciscan Friar Jacopo do Torrita.

In keeping with the popular themes of the period the mosaics depict the last judgement with the dead rising to be judged by Christ. The figures to the left of Christ and damned and sent to hell where demons are depicted torturing the damned roasting them on spits, to the right of Christ the saved enter heaven. These graphic images were designed to keep the worshipers on a righteous path.

Tiers of Apostles flank Christ on one side and angels with typical Byzantine style wings are on the other.

Other panels show scenes from the life of Joseph, the life of Mary and scenes showing Adam & Eve being expelled from the garden of Eden.

The Byzantine style mosaics shows the artistic influence the Eastern Roman Byzantine Empire had over the west as it emerged from a long period know as the dark ages.

The Baptistry ceiling is a riot of gold and bright colors which is still awe inspiring today. .