In the central ceiling rose of the atrium is a nineteenth century golden inscription with the name of Perino del Vaga, the year 1530, and the name of Annibale Angelini, the restorer that carried out the important recovery works on the renaissance complex around mid nineteenth century.
Half way down the long sides, there are four divinities that represent the fundamental elements of the universe and are taken from the classical cosmogony tradition. On the side that accedes to the grand staircase, stands Neptune holding his trident, symbolizing water and Aeolus next to him, who symbolizes air; on the opposite side, Vulcano holding a hammer is the emblem of fire and next to him, Pluto, who represents the earth. In the large central panel of the vault there are four rectangles showing Scenes of triumph. Three of these represent corteges of the Roman general, Lucio Emilio Paolo, famous for having liberated Liguria from the occupation of the Gauls.
This episode refers explicitly to the heroic feat accomplished by Andrea Doria in 1528 when he drove the French out of Genoa. In the fourth panel near the archway of the grand staircase is the Triumph of Bacchus in India. On the walls there are bas-reliefs sculpted in the forties of the sixteenth century by a famous Florentine sculptor called Montorsoli of puttis holding ancient military trophies. Originally they were placed in the gentilitial family chapel. There are also two Roman sarcophagi in the atrium that date back to the Second and Third century A.C.
The first was transferred to the Doria Palazzo from the Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte. It is the more ancient of the two and portrays Homer’s legend of Achilles in Scyro where the hero’s mother convinced him to disguise himself as a women to escape the Trojan war and sure death.
This work dates back to shortly before 200 BC. The second sarcophagus dates back to the middle of 200 BC and is distinguished by intricate decorations of exquisite workmanship.
Episodes of the myth of Diana are represented, narrated by Sapho and recounted by Alexandrine poets according to which the goddess of the Moon, in love with a handsome shepherd went every night to watch him while he was sound asleep. The relief of the sarcophagus shows Hypnos, god of sleep pouring poppy juice from a horn on his head while Diana descends in her carriage.