Why did Lorenzo Ghiberti win the competition for the Florence Baptistery doors?

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Bronze self-portrait of Lorenzo Ghiberti in relief, set within ornate floral and geometric decoration on the Gates of Paradise at the Florence Baptistery. — Lorenzo Ghiberti Self-portrait by Lorenzo Ghiberti, detail from *Gates of Paradise*, 1425–52; gilded bronze doors formerly on the east side of the Baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence, and now on display in Opera del Duomo Museum, Florence.

In 1401, Lorenzo Ghiberti competed against Filippo Brunelleschi and five other artists to design a pair of bronze doors for the Baptistery of Florence. Each contestant was tasked with creating a bronze relief depicting the biblical scene of the sacrifice of Isaac.12

Ghiberti was declared the winner in 1402 by a large panel of judges because his entry panel displayed a graceful and lively composition, executed with a masterful command of the goldsmith’s art. While Brunelleschi’s work was noted for its dramatic impact and vigorous gestures, the judges ultimately favored Ghiberti’s refined technical execution. This victory brought the young artist immediate and lasting prominence, leading to a contract for the doors in 1403.21