The BYU Museum of Art (MOA) has unveiled a meticulously restored gypsum cast replica of Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Renaissance masterpiece, the "Gates of Paradise." The restoration project spanned a decade and involved approximately 13,000 hours of labor, largely performed by BYU students who repaired damage and applied gold leaf to the ten ornate panels. The restored work is now the centerpiece of the exhibition "Gilded Paradise," which features immersive projections of Florence and will remain on view through October 2026.
This project is significant due to the rarity of these historical replicas, with fewer than a dozen intact versions existing worldwide. Beyond its value as a rare archival object, the restoration serves as a major educational milestone for the university, providing students with specialized conservation skills and offering the regional community access to a foundational work of art history. The unveiling was further marked by an interfaith panel, highlighting the work's enduring religious and cultural relevance.