The north portal, or “the portal of the Virgin”
It is the most ornate portal, facing the Square, which at the time of construction of the Baptistery was already bounded on the east by the Cathedral and on the west by the Bishop’s Palace.
The north portal, or “the portal of the Virgin” — In depth
The north portal, or “the portal of the Virgin”
The lintel
The inscription in the red marble of Verona lintel gives us the date of the start of works, 1196, and the name of the person in charge of the project: “Benedetto”, the same creator of the “Deposition from the Cross” housed in the Cathedral, in which we can also read the family name, Antelami. The upper part shows three scenes of the life of John the Baptist, to whom the Baptistery is dedicated. From left, the Baptism of Christ, Herod’s banquet, and the beheading.
The lunette
The lunette depicts the major scene, which identifies this as “the portal of the Virgin.” In the centre is Mary on the throne, crowned, with a flower in her right hand, and with her left hand holding Christ seated on her knee. An angel guides the Magi bearing gifts. On the right Joseph, sitting, receives Gabriel’s warning to escape to Egypt: a scene that continues in the same lunette inside the Baptistery, with the flight to Egypt. The arch surrounding the lunette is carved with twelve figures of prophets: each prophet holds a medallion depicting the bust of an apostle, a frequent composition in the Middle Ages.
The left jamb
In the left jamb we see the twelve patriarchs, sons of Jacob and heads of the twelve tribes of Israel, set into a pattern of two opening and closing leafy branches. At the top, Moses.
The right jamb
The right jamb depicts Mary’s genealogy. Antelami wanted to underline the importance of Mary, to whom the Cathedral is also dedicated, in the city.