Rafael Atché

RAFAEL ATCHÉ I FERRÉ (Barcelona, 1854–1923).
"Christ."
Terracotta.
Signed.
Measurements: 35 x 19 x 16 cm.

A Catalan sculptor and creator of the famous sculpture that crowns the Monument to Christopher Columbus in Barcelona, Rafael Atché produced numerous monumental works, though he also explored religious themes and funerary sculpture. He received his training at the La Llotja School in Barcelona and subsequently furthered his studies in the studio of the brothers Agapit and Venanci Vallmitjana, from whom he inherited the naturalistic style that characterized his work. Upon completing his training, around 1870, Atché opened his own studio alongside his fellow student Josep Carcassó, initially devoting himself to creating works with religious themes. Notable works from this period include the statues “Sant Agustí” and “Sant Feliu,” both from 1872. Many of these works were commissioned by a Galician art dealer based in Buenos Aires, who applied the polychrome finish to the sculptures Atché created in Barcelona. Before the decade ended, the sculptor had already gained significant recognition, thanks to works such as the bust portrait of King Alfonso XII, currently housed in the Royal Palace of Pedralbes (1877). Atché worked tirelessly, creating a large number of monumental works, both freestanding and integrated into architecture, such as the sculptures “Saint Francis of Assisi” and “Saint Sebastian,” which he created for the façade of Barcelona Cathedral in 1890. He also created the decoration for the clock and the busts of Father Canyelles and Carbonell for the façade of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Barcelona, as well as the gargoyles of the Monumental Fountain in Ciutadella Park, although his most memorable monument is the sculpture of Columbus, unveiled in 1888 to coincide with the celebration of the World’s Fair. In the 1880s, he also began to gain recognition through the National Exhibitions held in Madrid and Barcelona, participating in the editions of 1882, 1883, 1884, 1891, 1894, 1897 (third medal) and 1901 (nominated for a second medal). Apart from his monumental work, one of the most interesting aspects of Atché’s oeuvre is his funerary sculpture, featuring works of great lyricism and poetic sensibility that reveal a certain affinity with the Modernist movement, which was just beginning to take shape at that time. This evolution is particularly evident in his later works, such as the mausoleum of Jaume Pincernau i Pintó at the Montjuïc Cemetery (1918–19). Aside from these large-scale works, his small clay projects stand out in particular, as they best showcase his talent. These are pieces executed with a swift, energetic touch, full of movement and strength, which served as preliminary models for his larger works. Today, monumental works by Atché can be found in Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia, as well as at the Museu Europeu d’Art Modern in Barcelona and the Museu del Modernisme Català.