Relief: Baptist Preaching- Siena Baptistery

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This monumental relief is part of the majestic font of Siena's baptistery, a masterful sculptural work crafted by various talented artists between 1417 and 1430. Notable contributors include Jacopo della Quercia, Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, and Giovanni di Turino, who collaborated on this exceptional ensemble that marks a crucial transition from Gothic sculpture to the Renaissance. The decision to relocate the font from within the Duomo to a new structure emerged at the end of the fourteenth century. As the apse expansion necessitated the construction of supporting spurs due to the steep gradient, underground spaces beneath the Cathedral were created, where it was ultimately decided to establish a baptistery. Construction of the true source began in 1417 under Jacopo della Quercia's design and the execution of Pietro del Minella, Sebastian Corso, and Nanni from Lucca. To ensure accurate measurements, Sienese masters were consulted, along with renowned Florentine artists Donatello and Ghiberti, who oversaw some bronze decorations shipped directly from Florence. A comprehensive documentation details the various stages of decoration, with continuous oversight by Cathedral workers, reminders to the artists, and a search for stylistic unity ultimately achieved despite differing creative hands. The source consists of a hexagonal tub adorned with golden bronze panels depicting Stories of the Baptist, spaced apart by representations of Virtues in niches. A central pillar supports a ciborium intricately carved on five sides with reliefs of Prophets by Jacopo della Quercia (the sixth feature is the door made from gilded bronze and enamels showcasing the Madonna and Child by Giovanni di Turino), topped by four bronze putti (originally planned as six) and a marble statue of San Giovanni Battista, modeled after Jacopo. To appreciate the Story of the Baptist, one should begin reading from the side facing the altar, proceeding to the right. This pivotal scene is situated in the third position.