The building of the “
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro” (National Bank of Work) in “Via Cairoli” has a nice set of bas-reliefs: three panels on each side of the main entrance.
Each panel shows, in a symbolic manner, a different sector of the economy: commercial fishing, maritime trade, agriculture, movie making, constructions and mechanical industry.
Financing films (more than 5000 in about seventy years) from production to distribution has been a traditional business for this bank, since the last years of the fascist period, when the import of American movies was forbidden.
The BNL is now owned by French banking group
BNP Paribas.
The building of the “Banca Nazionale del Lavoro” (National Bank of Work) in “Via Cairoli” has a nice set of bas-reliefs: three panels on each side of the main entrance.
Each panel shows, in a symbolic manner, a different sector of the economy: commercial fishing, maritime trade, agriculture, movie making, constructions and mechanical industry.
Financing films (more than 5000 in about seventy years) from production to distribution has been a traditional business for this bank, since the last years of the fascist period, when the import of American movies was forbidden.
The BNL is now owned by French banking group BNP Paribas.
21 comments:
It looks better than most bank entrances. Of course I found the fish and the crocodile :)
Lovely set of bas-reliefs. I'm with tapirgal, definitely more interesting than most bank entrances.
These carvings are beautiful!Great shots by the way. I like the whole lay out of them.
Terrific! My favourite is panel with fish - rally cool. I wonder when was this building built - looks like 20s?
Fabulous carving and such a fascinating history.
Merry Christmas from Bulgaria!
GOD JUL/ Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thanks for sooooo many nice photos and interesting information about your beautiful city!
Best wishes from Gunn
A great entrance, so well thought-out.
Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo! :)
What a handsome, nicely ornamented bank! Do they give out "free samples" inside?
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Beautiful reliefs! And perfect for a 'bank of work.' I'm glad the new owners kept the beautiful artwork.
Wow what an entrance gorgeous!
I totally agree with Hilda, these details reliefs are outstanding!
Léia
Very appropriate for bankers who are supposed to help businesses along. Funny how movie and industry are added to the traditional labours...
Is this 1920s-1930s?
Btw, the last one is a Wednesday Doorway!
Very nice doorway!
Opposit to your fascist period, Portugal imported movies during Salazar dictatorship but lots of scenes were simply not shown, so all movies were shorter... I remember they have cut half an hour (yes, 30 minutes!) on Fellini's 'Roma'...
Oh, I love these, they are VERY PRETTY!!!!
Very interesting reliefa. Wish our banks placed art on the facade.
I like the fire in the industrial panel.
Those are beautiful - great graphics! When were they done?
The bas relief has lovely details that make them fun to study.
I didn't know American films were banned during the Fascist period...but of course it totally makes sense.
These are very cute. I would decorate a kid's room with those - everything is so happy on these.
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