Α significant part of the Collection of the National Bank, including works by Greek painters of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. is being exhibited this year at the National Gallery. The Collection began to be assembled immediately after the foundation of the Bank in 1841 and was gradually enriched, so that today it numbers some 2.000 works, which indirectly reflect the history of painting in modern Greece.

In parallel with the exhibition of the works. also of particular interest is the account of the history of the National Bank's Collection in its recording of the differing approaches and options of the various Governors. Moreover, the series of portraits of all the Governors of the National Bank -works which were commissioned from and produced by established artists over a period of 170 years- is of great historical and artistic importance.

In the last four years, our chief concern has been to supplement the Collection with works from artists or artistic trends which up to that point were not represented, and more generally to enhance it with works of historical importance and first-class quality. Particular attention has been paid to the programme providing for the conservation and restoration of all the works in the Collection. At the same time. the documentation and compilation of a complete record of the works on the most up-to-date museological principles are going ahead.

On behalf of the Board of Directors. Ι would like to express the warmest thanks to the Director of the National Gallery. Ms Marina Lambraki-Plaka, for hosting the National Bank's Collection at the National Gallery, for her highly valued collaboration, and for the excellent organisation of the exhibition. Special thanks are also due to the Director of Collections of the National Gallery and Curator of the National Bank's Collection, Ms Olga Mentzafou-Polyzou, for her outstanding curating and presentation of the Collection, both through the exhibition and by means of the special catalogue.

Takis Arapoglou
President of the National Bank