Dome

High relief of Alfonso (in full armor) with his troops and a dog; The triumphal arch was built to celebrate and immortalize the triumphal entry into Naples (26 February 1443) of Alfonso V of Aragon (later Alfonso I, King of Naples and Sicily); it is both the frontispiece and the entrance to the castle. The sculpture of the triumphal arch was executed by at least nine different artists, including Domenico Gagini, Isaia da Pisa, Paolo Romano, Francesco Laurana and their numerous assistants. The design of the arch itself has been attributed to Pietro di Martino da Milano, who was also responsible for several of the reliefs; it represents an extremely rich interweaving of Late Gothic and humanistic cultures. The monument comprises four superimposed zones, including two distinct arches, which belong to separate periods. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com/ (accessed 4/19/2013)