Monreale Cathedral:
The Bronze Door by Bonanno Pisano

The bronze door of the Cathedral. The portal (1185-6), whose panels were probably made in Pisa, was realised by the Tuscan artist Bonanno Pisano. In fact it is signed Bonanno civis pisanus at the bottom. In the five lower orders of bronze panels, there are scenes from the Old Testament (seven dedicated to the story of Adam and Eve, and six to pairs of prophets) while, in the panels of the five upper orders, scenes from the New Testament are represented. Finally, at the top of the door, Christ and Mary are represented in the glory of Heaven. The door was built, according to the Byzantine and Italo-Byzantine practice, on a wooden base, with the single narrative or figurative panels fused separately and framed by a metal structure fixed to the rear wooden support by nails whose heads appear as decorative rosettes.