The Baptistery of San Giovanni, Florence 2 Vol. by Antonio Paolucci This two volume masterpiece includes scholarly research that confirms the unsurpassed importance of the Baptistry to the art of Florence and to western culture in general. Noted scholars deal with questions of attribution and style, placing the works of many media and periods into historical context, alongside wondrous reproductions of the Baptistry's many treasures. Ghiberti's masterpiece, "The Gates of Paradise", with its striking gilt bronze doors and Old Testament scenes, is shown in full color with numerous details, as are Vincenzo Danti's striking statues of Salome and John the Baptist that stand above the doors. The elaborate biblical scenes which fill the volumes will be a delight to all who flip through the pages. CL, ISBN: 0807613681 $450.00