Which artistic ideas from ancient Rome appear in Lorenzo Ghiberti’s sculptures?

Lorenzo Ghiberti incorporated several artistic ideas from ancient Rome into his work, reflecting his deep interest in the classical world and his role as a humanist scholar. Key influences include:1

• Classical Modeling: Ghiberti moved away from the late Gothic style toward a more classical approach that emphasized the human body over elaborate drapery. He created expressive, strong faces for his figures by drawing inspiration from ancient Roman portrait busts and carved sarcophagi.2
• Idealization of Nature: Influenced by the humanist belief that beauty was synonymous with antique art, Ghiberti sought to idealize nature. He aimed to capture the essence of life by depicting movement, which he considered the most salient characteristic of living figures.1
• Spatial Realism: In his Gates of Paradise, Ghiberti utilized linear perspective to create a rationalized, deep spatial setting. This allowed him to render architecture and landscapes that measured space in a way that mimicked reality, ensuring that figures appeared smaller or larger depending on their distance from the viewer.31
• Theoretical Foundation: Through his writings in I Commentarii, Ghiberti demonstrated his belief that the excellence of ancient art stemmed from the inseparability of artistic practice and theory, a principle he applied to his own work.1