Doorway, stone, carved, 1515, from Palazzo Orsini at Ghedi, Brescia

Doorway, stone. The face and the inner side of the arch carved with military and other trophies, grotesques, and medallion heads of Roman Emperors; at the ends of the frieze are young angels playing on instruments, and in the spandrils are two circular recesses in which are classical busts. The decoration is enriched with various mouldings. On the capitals of the outer pilasters are shields of arms, one of which is that of the Orsini, and on the inner pilasters the date MDXV is repeated. A projecting cornice, supported by brackets, crowns the structure, which is said to have been brough from Ghedi, near Brescia, where is formed part of a palace erected by Nicola Orsinio, Count of Nola and Prince of Pitigliano (b. 1442, d. 1510), a celebrated general in the service of the Venetian Republic, and presumably finished by his widow who survived him for many years. The original decoration was extensively embellished in the 19th century.

Purchased in Milan.

from the Palazzo Orsini at Ghedi, Brescia

This doorway is from the palace of Nicola Orsini, Count of Nola and Pitigliano at Ghedi in Brescia. The face and the inner side of the arch of this stone doorway are carved with military and other trophies, grotesques, and medallion heads of Roman Emperors. At the ends of the frieze are images of young angels playing on instruments and in the spandrils are two circular recesses in which are classical busts. Much of this decoration was added in the 19th century, when the doorway was elaborately embellished.

61-1885