the journal of literature and the arts at saint david ’ s school
designing the East panels (“ Filippo Brunelleschi Artist Overview and Analysis ”). The task for the sculptors was to create their own version of the Sacrifice of Isaac “ on a bronze quatrefoil plaque ” using their creativity , style , and emotion . As the story goes from Genesis 22:2 , “[ God ] said [ to Abraham ], take your son , your only son Isaac … and offer him there as a burnt offering ” ( New International Version , Genesis 22:2 ). Abraham , in an act of “ supreme devotion ,” is moments away from brutally slitting his son ’ s throat , but God sends an angel to intervene , and rather than sacrificing his son , God has him offer a sheep instead ( Harris and Zucker ). Brunelleschi , in his design , depicts the violence , danger , and chaos of the story using “ emotionally powerful ” carved features such as the “ knife of Abraham dangerously approaching Isaac ' s throat , the unnaturally contorted body of Isaac , and the angel firmly grasping the hand of Abraham ” ( Harris and Zucker ). Meanwhile , Ghiberti illustrates a more classical and elegant scene by composing beautiful curvilinear lines and harmonious figures , while also “ creat [ ing ] a more realistic scene than Brunelleschi ” by carving a rocky landscape and having the angel emerge from the top right corner of the frame ( Harris and Zucker ).
It still remains a mystery today as to who was the true victor of the competition . The more believable outcome of the competition was that Ghiberti was victorious . As he states in his commentary in the early 15th century , “ to me was conceded the palm of victory ,” and Ghiberti , between the years of 1425 and 1452 , went on to create ten beautifully crafted bronze panels all dedicated to individual stories from the Old Testament and later deemed by world renowned painter Michelangelo as “ The Gates of Paradise ” ( Harris and Zucker ). However , another rumored possibility was that there was a tie and the two “ could work together as partners … [ but ] Filippo would
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