The purpose of the paintings on the staircase was to signal to visitors that they were moving from an everyday space into a more ceremonial setting. Numerous different species of birds are painted on the staircase ceiling. The vaulted beams are also decorated with refined ornamentation painted in blue and yellow.
In the 19th century, the staircase walls were marbled in shades of yellow, and a simple black wainscot was painted on their lower sections. These paintings were removed during restoration, and the staircase was restored to its 17th-century appearance.
