Ghiberti’s final panel depicts the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in unity, appearing like a couple during their wedding ceremony. Their union contrasts with the discord and confusion seen in every previous panel. The central pair are framed by the nave of a grand cathedral and surrounded by an extensive retinue that looks upon the King and Queen with respect and awe. The depiction of viewership mirrors the Florentine public which, at the culmination of the narrative, could experience the stories that Ghiberti presented to them. This is an image of a society in harmony, as Ghiberti and those leaders involved in the design and commissioning of the Gates of Paradise wished Florence to become.
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