In 1980 the artist received from the photographer David Finn a book of photographs of the Florence Baptistery Doors, from which Moore did twleve sketches, five in 1980 and seven the following year. The South Door by Andrea Pisano depicting the life of John the Baptist, competed between 1322 and 1336, was orginally hung in the place of honour on the east door of the Baptistery; the North Door (1402-24) with scenes from the life of Christ was by Lorenzo Ghiberti, who on its completion was immediately commissioned to make a door depiciting scenes from the Old Testament, the Porta del Paradiso, which in 1452 replaced Pisano's door on the east side. HMF(255) is the head of the Virgin Mary from Panel x of the North Door.