The Image of Hercules in Porta Della Mandorla Sculptural Decoration: Iconography and Symbolism

Abstract

This article focus point concerns six reliefs in the northern portal of the of the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence, also known as the Porta della Mandorla. The portal sculptural decoration was made in 1391-1405 by a group of artists whose names are recorded in the documents of the Opera del Duomo dated of that time. All the reliefs represent Hercules framed with an Rankenornamentik. On the portal's right door-jambs there are five compositions, four of which are dedicated to the Hercules' labours, theses are Hercules killing the Nemean lion, the combat with Antaeus, Hercules killing the Lernean hydra, and the Hesperides' golden apples. Two other compositions, one of which is placed on the left archivolt, represent the frontal figure of Hercules leaning on a club.Based on the ancient documents and stylistic analysis, scientists tried to establish these reliefs author. Despite many years of research and long discussions, several attribution options are offered in modern historiography: 1) Giovanni d'Ambrogio,