Thursday, September 8, 2016

PALACE OF THE BANK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

PALAZZO DEL BANCO DI S. SPIRITO

1521/25 Antonio Cordini aka Antonio da Sangallo the Younger (1483/1546)
Formerly known as Palazzo della Zecca (Palace of the Mint)
Statues on the façade “Charity” and “Abundance”
“Accentuated interests in spatial urban function with the assertion of a vigorous and non-inert 'classical' style inspired by Bramante and Raphael appear in the façade of the Mint, certainly conceived for viewers coming from Ponte S. Angelo. (...) Cordini exhibits a controlled search of novelty and monumental expression animated by the concavity of the front and showing proportional contrasts in the definition of linguistic elements and decorations. (...) Despite some uncertainties, a finally reached maturity, in the full domain of his personal language, characterizes this work generally considered by the scholars as one of the highest expressions of Cordini's activity” (Arnaldo Bruschi - Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Treccani)
The mint remained here until 1541 and the building was thereafter known as Zecca vecchia (Old Mint)
In 1667 it became the headquarters of the BANCO DI SANTO SPIRITO (Bank of the Holy Spirit) changing name with internal adjustments by Giovanni Tommaso Ripoli for the new function
The Banco di Santo Spirito was founded in 1605 by Paul V Borghese (1605/21): it offered rudimentary banking services but it gained a huge success having as guarantee the funds of the nearby Ospedale S. Spirito (Hospital of the Holy Spirit)
It is still a bank today with a branch of Unicredit which incorporated the Banco di S. Spirito

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