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The official site of Italy's central bank
The Bank of Italy's photographic archives comprise images produced or acquired by the Bank in the course of its activities which have been passed on to the Historical Archives once they are no longer actively required.
The Photographic Archives have been expanded by means of a series of new photographs relating to historical events in the Bank's life acquired from public authorities, other archives and the private sector (news and photo agencies). Some private individuals have also made large donations.
Following the most recent guidelines on cultural heritage which give photography a special status, the Bank of Italy's Historical Archives have undertaken to protect, preserve and enhance its own photographic archives.
The Photographic Archives have been consolidated since 1997, partly owing to the recognition of their importance which led to the acquisition of many more photographs still held by various departments, branches and individual staff members.
The collection continues to grow - photographs are still arriving as a result of the creation of inventories and catalogues of the archival holdings at the Bank's Head Office and branches. In this way, the entire historical photograph collection will be unified and scholars will find consultation easier.
Restoration work has been done on the most delicate and worn photographs in the Archives, and the entire collection is in the process of being organized and catalogued. Digital reproduction is being considered in order to protect the originals and to make consultation easier.
The historical photographic archives are consulted by authorities and researchers for various reasons, for example the search for photographs to put in iconographic appendixes of scientific works; to use on book covers, in exhibitions or in exhibition catalogues.
In the area of the enhancement of this particular type of source material, it is worth mentioning the publication of a volume edited by Marina Miraglia: Il potere dell'immagine. A portrait of the Banca Nazionale in 1868, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2003, document series, volume XIV.
This particularly prestigious work contains all the photographs contained in an album produced by the then Banca Nazionale nel Regno in 1868, depicting the bank staff at that date, divided by office and branch. It is a rare and important page in the history of photography at the time just before the unification of Italy.
Photo list (Text only in Italian) pdf 605 kB
Selected examples from the photographic archives