Joaquim Folch i Torres

Barcelona, 1886 – Badalona, 1963

His contribution as an art critic and his constant endeavors to protect, preserve and disseminate Catalan art heritage make him a key figure in 20th century Catalonia.

He had an active role in the development of a planned national museum system (Pla de Museus de Catalunya), which culminated in the creation of the Museu d’Art de Catalunya.

He played a very important part in making Cau Ferrat a public museum after Santiago Rusiñol bequeathed his property to the town of Sitges.

He was director of the Museus d'Art de Catalunya (Museums of Art of Catalonia) and was Secretary of the Junta de Museus (Board of Museums), and, between 1933 and 1936, director of the Cau Ferrat. As its first director, he set himself the task of opening the museum to the general public, thus making it one of the most important museums in Catalonia.

In appreciation for his work, the Sitges Town Council voted, in plenary session on July 9, 1936, to name him Adoptive Son. The appointment, never took place: Franco’s coup d’état on July 19 and the outbreak of the civil war (1936-1939).

His naming fell into oblivion (it lasted 75 years), until 25th of March 2011, in the same place where the Council had voted his naming, the Folch’s family gathered and put up the plaque.

THE HOUSE IN DAVALLADA

In 1935, Folch i Torres commissioned the architect Josep M. Martino i Arroyo with the project of building a house in carrer Davallada; a house which is now known as casa Folch i Torres or casa O. Baget (after Orsina Baget, his wife). Although it bears the architect’s signature, Isabel Coll attributes “the original idea to the owner Joaquim Folch i Torres. The promoter of the construction, wanted, undoubtedly, to convey monumentalism to the building, fitting the area of the town where it stands and following Miquel Utrillo’s system of mixing architectural elements from different styles and periods.” [COLL, I. (2001)].

Joaquim Folch i Torres

Barcelona, 1886 – Badalona, 1963

Joaquim Folch i Torres (Barcelona, 1886 – Badalona, 1963) was a museologist, historian and art critic. His contribution as an art critic and his constant endeavors to protect, preserve and disseminate Catalan art heritage make him a key figure in 20th century Catalonia. It is thanks to his efforts that the Romanic paintings of the Pyrinees were not looted and destroyed. He was a pioneer in the field of museography and promoted a systematic method for cataloging Catalan art collections, convinced, as he was, that Catalonia should have solid cultural foundations. He had an active role in the development of a planned national museum system (Pla de Museus de Catalunya), which culminated in the creation of the Museu d'Art de Catalunya.

He strived to make art a familiar reality for the general public through his articles in La Veu de Catalunya and in the magazine he directed, Gaseta de les Arts (1924-1930). He also launched the Butlletí dels Museus d'Art de Barcelona (1931-1937), and, after the war, he published in the magazine Destino (1952-1963).

He was director of the Museus d'Art de Catalunya (Museums of Art of Catalonia) and was Secretary of the Junta de Museus (Board of Museums), and, between 1933 and 1936, director of the Cau Ferrat. As its first director, he set himself the task of opening the museum to the general public, thus making it one of the most important museums in Catalonia. He also worked for the preservation of Palau Maricel's holdings. On the Cau Ferrat, Folch i Torres wrote "it's his breath [Santiago Rusiñol's] we sense in the Cau Ferrat; it was his dream house, every wall speaks of his tastes, his style: is a projection of his spirit". (Butlletí dels Museus d'Art de Barcelona, Board of Museums, June 1933).

In appreciation for his work, the Sitges Town Council voted, in plenary session on July 9, 1936, to name him Adoptive Son. The appointment, which was to happen in August, in the Festa Major, never took place: Franco's coup d'état on July 19 and the outbreak of the civil war (1936-1939) changed the course of events and his naming fell into oblivion. In fact, the rise of the Francoist regime would have greater consequences in his life: in 1939 he was convicted to 12 years and a day of imprisonment for "aiding armed rebels".