The Flagellation

The Flagellation of Jesus Christ is another episode from The Passion of Christ series that makes up a key part of Lorenzo Ghiberti's overall summary of the life of this religious icon

Many artists have covered The Flagellation within their careers, but few have laid out each key moment in Christ's life in roughly chronological order in one series as Ghiberti did here in his north doors panels. The finished result would lift his reputation to a whole new level and ensure that he was never short of work in Florence or indeed elsewhere in the papal states of Italy.

As with many of his panels, the only original gilt remaining on the bronze work is to be found in the background scenery, which in this case are elements of classical architecture with narrow pillars providing aesthetic support to the figures in the foreground. The focus of the eye is always intended to remain on the pain and misery of Jesus Christ as Christians collectively respect and admire his selfless act on the behalf of others. This kindness and love is at the root of Christian teachings.

Each of the panels uses the same decorative border which is near identical to those used by Andrea Pisano who produced the first series of doors for the Florence Baptistery around a century earlier. The north doors in general took a lot of inspiration from his earlier project, also following a relatively similar use of the late gothic style. His follow-up series, nicknamed the Gates of Paradise, went on a new artistic path, with a greater creativity, imagination and confidence that resulted from the artist becoming more experienced, technically skilled and also being rewarded even more scope for artistic expression.