November 14, 2007

A bank succurcal


I refer to my post on Rue Fortuny last week. When leaving this place you arrive at a square, called Place du Général-Catroux (17th arrdt.), once called the place of the Three Dumas.











On this square you will find the statues of Alexandre Dumas, father/père (The Count of Monte Christo, The Three Musketeers…) and son/fils (The Lady of the Camelias…)*. There used also to be a statue of the grandfather, also called Alexandre, bastard son of a Tahitian slave and a noble Frenchman, who became a General in the French Army in 1793. This statue was destroyed by the Nazi occupants in 1942.

There is a remarkable building here, built as a private home (hôtel particulier / mansion) for Emile Gaillard in 1884, who was governor of the French National Bank (Banque de France) and a great art collector. Some years after his death, the building was bought by the French National Bank. Despite its size and prestigious style, this is however not the Bank’s official site and major building in Paris, just a succurcal.

The building is normally hidden by the trees, but as some of them had now lost their leaves; it was possible to get a more general view.

One small detail that you can find above some windows; a “G” for Gaillard. Some of these photos can be seen “in full” on my photo blog.
___________
*/ I have previously posted on the graves of Alexandre Dumas fils and of “The Lady of the Camelias” (Marie Duplessis), both at the Montmartre cemetery.

28 comments:

Keshi said...

France has so much history thats truly fascinating!

Keshi.

krystyna said...

Thank you Peter for this information and for great photos.
I love this old,
beautiful architecture.
P.S.
Now, Kevin is in a weak condition.
Thanks for asking.
I'm Ok and prepare for a birthday party. Hope you'll come.

lyliane six said...

As tu visité le Château de Monte Cristo à Marly le Roi?, ce n'était pas loin de Rueil.Il y a un magnifique salon mauresque.Dans le parc il y a aussi le château d'If qui était le cabinet de travail de l'écrivain.Il faudrait un jour aller refaire un tour vers Rueil, il y a de quoi tirer quelques photos, dans et autour de cette ville où il y a tant de traces historiques.

alice said...

"J'ai mis quelques sous ce côté et je me suis fait construire un petit truc tarabiscoté, avec un petit air de château de la Loire..." aurait pu dire Emile!

hpy said...

Et tu as surement visité la cellule au large de Marseille! Celle du comte.

Olivier said...

encore une belle histoire sur Paris, je vais peut etre me faire mal voir, mais je suis pas un fan de la famille Alexandre Dumas, j'ai jamais accroché a leurs livres ;o(

Peter said...

keshi:
You are right; I learn something new every day.

krystyna:
Thanks for your visit, despite your "holidays"! I trust that things will soon be better for Kevin again; there are ups and downs!

lyliane:
Oui, bp à voir à Rueil, mais il me reste encore quelques "détails" à poster pour Paris; alors, je te laisse la priorité pour Rueil!

Peter said...

alice:
C'est très juste; probablement ce qu'il a dit!!

hpy:
Non. Toi?

olivier:
Il y a une marge de sécurité avant que tu sois mal vu!

Anonymous said...

elle est charmante la vieille dame dans son vieux rose!

Peter said...

lasiate:
Elle porte bien son age!

alice said...

Moi non plus, je n'ai jamais lu les livres des Dumas...J'ai quand même le droit de revenir aussi?

Emilieee said...

I love the silhouette of the building. Nice architecture! =)

hpy said...

Oui.

Peter said...

alice:
Aucune autre obligation que de revenir!

emily:
Happy to see you around again!! Really!!! You were "lost" since at least two weeks!

hpy!
Noté!

Cergie said...

Alors là si le solide gaillard du Limousin vient pas commenter ici je veux bien te payer un thé (et des gateaux) chez Mariage Frère quand tu veux (y en a un près du jardin du Luxemboug)

J'AI TOUT LU Tout des quatre mousquetaires comme les trois Dumas, le Vicomte et tout et tout les dix ans et les vingt ans après. Même l'inédit récent "la guerre des femmes" c'est dire (mais pas si récent, avant que je bloggue. Tiens là j'ai du mal à finir mon "bestial serviteur du pasteur..." ET pourtant c'est drôlement bien)

PS : pas mal la tapisserie en haut. Elle va bien avec le background de ton blog
PPS : Lyliane est drôlement fortiche ! Et puis elel n'hésite pas à faire un AR au Japon dans le WE.

Anonymous said...

Very nice work, Peter. I like the photos and narrative very much.

Peter said...

cergie:
Voila une belle invitation comme je les aime (avec une condition, mais quand-même!!)!

oldmanlincoln:
Thanks old man!

Noushy Syah said...

Hello Peter,
Thanks for dropping by to my blog, appreciate it...I only noticed it today of your comment..

Do visits me again sometimes!

p/s Your photo blog and this, are lovely,with fascinating images..did you captured all the images? I must say that it's really impressived!

Annie said...

Greetings Peter, I do so enjoy seeing the city through your eyes, your camera's lens.

Reading about Dumas ancestry reminds me that most of us have ancestral histories from around the world.

SusuPetal said...

Hmm, the best in autumn must be that the leaves fall and reveal great houses...:))

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Peter said...

noushy syah:
Thanks for dropping by again!
Yes, all pics are homemade, unless otherwise indicated.

annie:
So true annie, maybe especially if you live in the States!

susupetal:
I know, you are a 100% summer person!

Peter said...

"message supprimé":
I deleted one comment which looked suspicious. Already received a similar one from the same source some weeks ago and it seemed to be only commercial - and perhaps "dangerous". Normally I never "censor", normally no reason!

Anonymous said...

Je suis passé devant cet été !

Anonymous said...

Again such a beautiful building (seems to be all in brick?) and with so much history. Paris seemed to be and still is THE CITY.

Peter said...

tietie007:
... quand les feuilles étaient encore sur les arbres!

april:
Paris certainly IS a place. Now, to be honest, there are a few others! Thanks anyhow for the compliments to Paris. When will we see "April" in Paris?

Mona said...

That is an interesting building with a unique facade!

Ash said...

Beautiful architecture!