The rooms on the first floor used to be representational, as this is where the offices of the management and the bank’s official halls were: the Hall of Honor and the Board Room. Due to these functions, the rooms are sumptuous and abundantly decorated.

The honor staircase, Old Palace

Throughout its history, the bank was governed not only by top professionals, but also by remarkable personalities, with strong and sincere patriotic feelings. To honor their memory, the Governors’ Gallery was established in the aisles surrounding the central area of the ground floor Marble Hall. The portraits of all the 25 governors that have led the bank until 1990, as well as two portraits of Eugeniu Carada, the founder of the NBR, are on display in the gallery. Here that the visitors have the opportunity to find out less known details on the bank’s leaders and on relevant aspects of their activity.

The Governors’ Gallery, first floor, Old Palace

The visit continues in the opulent Board Room, the most lavishly decorated hall in the bank, with an eclectic style displaying strong Baroque elements. The four works of art decorating the room contribute to its uniqueness.

The main entrance is bordered by two large paintings. On the left there is a work by Nicolae Grigorescu, oil on canvas, entitled Rodica - At Harvest, finished in 1894. The painting belongs to the artist’s late period and features an agricultural scene.

On the right there is a seascape by Eugen Voinescu, oil on canvas, painted in 1894 as well. It is most likely a scene from Constanța harbor on the Black Sea coast. Voinescu was a diplomat (former consul to Budapest, Constantinople and Odessa), who reverted to painting later in his life, being famous mainly for his seascapes.

The old board roomu (left) | The honor staircase - detail (right)

On the lateral walls of the Board Room, there are two decorative panels signed by George D. Mirea. They are painted on oval canvases and depict mythological scenes featuring the Roman god Mercury and the titan Prometheus. The works are painted in an academic manner with Baroque influences, a very popular trend in Romania at that time.

The furniture in the room was ordered in Paris and is Louis XVI style.