Italian sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) created the original 'Gates of Paradise' between 1425 and 1452. These gilded bronze gates, which served as doors for the San Giovanni Baptistery in Florence, Italy, were nicknamed 'the Gates of Paradise' by the artist Michelangelo. According to the BYU Museum of Art, the original work is considered one of the most important pieces in the early Renaissance.
A replica of these famous doors, consisting of gilded gypsum cast panels, has been the subject of a decade-long restoration project. These specific plaster casts were originally acquired by BYU-Hawaii and were stored for decades. In 2016, Sharon Gray, a former BYU art education professor and service missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, discovered the 42 crated gypsum casts in a storage room at BYU-Hawaii. Gray, who had seen the original gates in Florence in 1984 during a study abroad program, recognized the panels immediately. Following this discovery, the two universities collaborated to transfer the panels to Provo for preservation and display.
The restoration process for the replicas involved several years of work to repair damage, restore lost detail, and apply gold leaf. Under the direction of professional team leader John Adams, BYU students contributed an estimated 13,000 hours of work over the course of a decade to bring the sculptures back to life. This work included building custom structural support and prepping the pieces for installation. The panels, which stand 18 feet tall, depict ten stories from the Old Testament, including scenes such as Moses receiving the Ten Commandments and the story of Abraham and Isaac.
The restored replicas were unveiled at the BYU Museum of Art on February 20, 2026, as part of the exhibition titled "Gilded Paradise." This exhibition is scheduled to remain on view through October 2026. During the opening of the exhibition, an interfaith panel was held to discuss the biblical scenes depicted on the gates. Panelists included Jewish leader Maeera Y. Schreiber, who represented the Jewish faith, Muslim leader Imam Ahmad Salah, and Catholic leader Mark Gilbert. The panel discussed how art and religion intertwine, with Salah noting that the panels offer lessons regarding temptation and redemption.
Following the conclusion of the "Gilded Paradise" exhibition in October 2026, the Gates of Paradise will be moved to a permanent home in the West Lied Gallery of the MOA. The museum's director, Janalee Emmer, stated that the institution accepted the responsibility of the restoration with humility and hopes the work inspires visitors for generations to come. The museum provides access to these works for students and members of the Provo community to view the golden panels up close.
What this means for Paradise
The presence of Lorenzo Ghiberti's restored work in the region provides a unique educational resource. Residents can view the 18-foot-tall golden panels through October 2026 at the BYU Museum of Art, after which the installation will move to a permanent location in the museum's West Lied Gallery.
