Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/263

Sculpture of the Romanesque Period. 233 Towards the close of the twelfth century considerable artistic activity was displayed in Pisa. The earliest of the famous series of gates of the Baptistery, begun in 1153, contain a series of sculptures representing scenes from the life of Christ, etc., in which the perfected Romanesque style, freed from Byzantine influence, may be studied ; and the first indications may be recognised of the grace and elegance combined with technical skill, for which the Pisani, who were the first to direct attention to the remains of ancient art in Italy, became so famous in the thirteenth century. A great advance was made in the art of bronze casting in Italy in the early part of the twelfth century. The bronze gate of the southern transept of Pisa Cathedral belongs to this period, and that of the Abbey of Bene- ventum, by Barisanus, the chief master of bronze casting in Italy, to a somewhat later date. The mediaeval sculpture of England will be noticed in the chapter on English sculpture.