Reial Circle Artistic in Pignatelli Palace, Carrer dels Arcs 5, Portal del Angel, Barcelona

Walking down Portal del Angel street you get to the intersection with Carrer dels Arcs. There is a small building over there called Palacio Pignatelli which holds the Reial Circle Artistic (Royal Artistic Circle). This entity was founded in 1881 although its royal category was granted by Alfonso XIII in 1926. The aim of this non-profit organization is to gather all those persons interested in Fine Arts and support them in their creative experience. The place has held many important exhibitions in Barcelona. But I only wanted to show you a detail of the beautiful figure on its facade.

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A Gaudian Sculpture Near Sagrada Familia Ceiling

High above the nave of Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s geometry folds into sharp, star‑shaped coffers that frame this striking dark figure. The modernist sculpture stands out against the pale stone and draped fabric, its almost metallic surface catching the warm interior light and pulling the eye away from the vast architecture around it.

As usual it is hard to crop Gaudí’s work, because every edge of the frame cuts through some intentional line, curve, or texture that seems to belong to a larger whole. Here the statue’s rigid, frontal pose contrasts with the soft billowing cloth behind it and the undulating balcony in front, creating a quiet, almost theatrical corner inside the basilica.

Unlike the pale stone sculptures outside, this figure is nearly black, with a compact, iconic silhouette that immediately evokes religious imagery. The golden chest area and stylized drapery suggest a protective, maternal presence, so it is tempting to read it as a distant, modern echo of the Black Virgin of Montserrat, La Moreneta, patroness of Catalonia—though this remains only a personal interpretation, not an official attribution.

Check other posts about Sagrada Familia and Gaudi

• Sagrada Família: Portal of Nativity
• Sagrada Família: Longinos and the Sacred Spear
• Sagrada Família: The Passion Façade Gates
• Passion Façade at Sagrada Familia: The Last Supper
• Canopy and Crucifix, High Altar, Sagrada Familia

Barcelona City of Angels

Not that I ever counted all the angels in Barcelona! I just wanted to use a poetic license to honor my city and what better than this angel you can admire right after you leave Sant Jaume square on your way down Carrer de la Ciutat. You will find a small set of stairs to your right and voilà.

Statue of Naked Woman At Montjuic Castle in Barcelona

On top of Montjuic mountain from where you have a privileged view of Barcelona there is a fortress as it is common at the entrance of bays. It is the Montjuic castle which I will deal with on some other occasion since it doesn't show in the picture. There is an esplanade with some huge canons and in the middle of this heavy artillery you come across a statue of a naked woman which honors the memory of Gaspar de Portolà the first California governor. Besides the weapons museum which is inside the castle and the canons all the rest around the statue (as you can see in the background), the view, the cleaner atmosphere and the sea breeze (that you don't see but it is easy to imagine) creates a special sense of bliss which is highly recommended after a hard day's walk downtown. I have to point out that my colleague Valery of BCN Daily and Trujillo had published this statue not long ago and we overlapped without me knowing it, that's good cause now you can enjoy the same place twice. Please visit his site to check his work too.

Here is the photograph geotagged at Flickr.