A regular, richly-decorated front has relief carving to spandrels and friezes set back from pilaster jambs in an outer arch with a key of bearded biblical heads, reclining allegorical figures in the spandrels, and frieze above of garlands, cartouches and horses. The first-floor Venetian windows have swagged Ionic capitals and pulvinated friezes. There are reclining female figures in the spandrels, carved keys of ships' prows and volutes, and a Portland frieze of children with symbols of trade and industry, and cartouches. The architects based their design on the Library of St Mark, a mid-sixteenth century Renaissance building designed by Venice’s leading architect, Jacopo Sansovino.