Rubens designed an Italian portico for his house and studio in Antwerp as an entrance gate to the garden. When the museum bought it, it turned out to still exist, but it had been painted, raised and closed almost beyond recognition. This can be clearly seen in this photo taken before the works started. Emiel van Averbeke paid a lot of attention to the portico and recommended lowering it and removing the layers of paint. The facade was redeveloped architecturally. Prints, paintings and drawings from Rubens' time were collected in order to carry out the reconstruction in the most historically responsible way possible.
Source: Anonymous, Date unknown, Photo of portico of Rubenshuis before restoration, Rubenshuis, Copyright protection not known