On the extreme left we find symbolism: a golden horseman, the emblems of the four Evangelists, and so forth, while above is a relief in black stone, netted in: this and the group over the central door being the only external statuary in Venice to which the pigeons have no access.
The carvings over the central door are interesting, although they have a crudity which will shock visitors fresh from the Baptistery doors at Florence.

As in most Venetian sculpture symbolism plays an important part, and one is not always able to translate it.

Here are arches within arches: one of scriptural incidents--at any rate Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel are identifiable; one of grotesques and animals; one of uncouth toilers--a shepherd and woodman and so forth--with God the Father on the keystone.

What these mean beyond the broad fact that religion is for all, I cannot say.

Angels are above, and surmounting the doorway is Christ.