The Baptistry dome
The paintings of the dome (as well as those of the conches of the niches below) are not the work of Antelami's workshop, as by 1225 at the latest the artist had left Parma.
The Baptistry dome — In depth
The Baptistry dome
The first band
The first band depicts episodes of the life of Abraham, taken from the first book of the Bible, Genesis. The presence of Abraham in the iconography of a building dedicated to the celebration of Baptism is justified by his role as Father of Faith, an example for the baptized.
The second band
The second ring of the dome is dedicated to John the Baptist, after whom the Baptistery is named. The importance given to this cycle of twelve scenes is evidenced by the writing that accompanies each scene, and by the gold that used to adorn the clothes of the figures, nowadays almost totally gone. The gold that represents the “light” in the icons is the divine colour.
The third band
In the third ring there is a number of Prophets in the act of giving testimony to Christ. In correspondence to the altar is the Christ of the Apocalypse, enthroned and holding an open book inscribed with the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. Next to the figure of Christ are Mary and John the Baptist, in an attitude of intercession.
The fourth and fifth band
The twelve enthroned Apostles are depicted above a frieze with plant motifs. In correspondence to the Christ above the altar, we see the four symbols of the Evangelists, who support the walls of Jerusalem depicted in the freeze above them. In the last two bands above the walls we find visual references to Dante’s Paradise in the golden stars of Heaven and, at the top, the Empyrean, the divine seat, where there is eternal light.