One of the reasons why Florence was the 'birthplace' of the Renaissance so to speak, was due to its political and social situation. In the 13th century, the aristocrats were expelled from the city and a merchant representative system supported by the Papacy was installed. Florence thus considered itself a republic and the city's growth and decoration was supported by merchant guilds - such as the Calimala paying for the Baptistery doors. Orsanmichele served as the chapel for the various guilds who each contributed to having their patron saint represented in the niches of the building. These sculptures are pretty good at illustrating the shift in artistic style.
The powerful Calimala commissioned Ghiberti (again) to make them a bronze St. John the Baptist. With his swirling abstract drapes that conceal his body, St. John is the epitome of late International Gothic style. The guild chose to illustrate their wealth by having it made in bronze, but while Ghiberti did well in making this - it was the first work of this size to be cast as a single bronze piece in centuries rather than separate pieces soldered together - it essentially hobbled the artist.
In comparison, the Armourers guild commissioned Donatello to make them a St. George out of marble (replaced on the Orsanmichele by a bronze copy). Approximately one-tenth of the cost of a bronze and notably smaller than St. John, the marble allowed Donatello to be more innovative. We see St. George as a soldier simply wearing his body-conforming uniform of a breastplate, cape, gauntlets and military boots. Thus, while St. George is more plain, it was considered superior and set the artistic agenda of aiming for naturalism for centuries to come.
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