Tabernacle

Knowledge of Ghiberti’s work as an architect is patchy. In 1406-08 he was already advising on the construction of Florence Cathedral. A document of September 1418 indicates that he employed four assistants to produce a model for the dome, which was submitted on 13 December together with models by other masters. The final competition between Brunelleschi and Ghiberti for the construction of the dome evidently took place at the end of March or beginning of April 1420. On 16 April of that year Ghiberti, Brunelleschi and the master mason Battista d’Antonio (active 1420-39) were appointed to supervise the construction. What part he had in its final design and technical construction is not clear.

Other attributions remain hypothetical: the only indications we have of his architectural style are the niche for the statue of St Matthew at Orsanmichele, which employs a composite style of antique and Late Gothic elements, and the tabernacle (Museo di San Marco, Florence) designed in 1432 for an altar for the Arte di Linaiuoli (Linen-workers’ guild).

The tabernacle contains Fra Angelico’s altarpiece depicting the Virgin and Child Enthroned with St John the Baptist and St Mark.