The Stanga Palace door, a masterpiece of the Lombard Renaissance architecture now in the Louvre, has been restored.

 Another extraordinary entrance.

It was built in 1490 (note: two years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue for India, but finding America instead) for the Palazzo Stanga di Castelnuovo in Cremona, a massive structure over 23 feet high inspired by the triumphal arches of antiquity. It is decorated with mythological iconography, primarily scenes and characters from the stories of Hercules and Perseus. Under the half columns are depictions of four of the Labors of Hercules — Antaeus, the Lernaean Hydra, the Nemean Lion, and the Stymphalian Birds. 

The seven heads of the Hydra are figures in a medallion in the center of the portal. The three heads of the Gorgons and the head of Pegasus are in a medallion on the right. Hercules wielding his club is one side; Perseus in armor is on the other. Above the arch on the entablature are reliefs of battles alternating with busts of Roman emperors. Scrolling foliage and fantastical animals intertwine squeeze in between the main scenes.

The design is attributed to Milanese sculptor Giovanni Pietro da Rho who was active in Cremona between 1480 and 1508. First built by Marquis Cristoforo Stanga, faithful adherent of Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first duke of Milan, in the early 18th century it was bought by Scipione I de’ Rossi, who restructured the palace in Baroque style. 

In 1870, the palace was sold to an engineer who completely rebuilt the façade, dismantling da Rho’s monumental portal. He sold the whole thing to an antiquarian banker from Marseilles in 1875, and the banker then sold it to the Louvre for twice what he paid for it.

Score!