Collection of altarpieces in the Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist Church (Bilbao)
Altarpiece of Saint Rafael
- Church: Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist Church (Bilbao)
- Location: Chapel of Saint Rafael
- Patron: donations from private persons and from institutions
- Chronology: 18th century (1742)
- Style: Baroque
A beautiful rococo altarpiece dedicated to the archangel who is closest to humanness
Interactive altarpiece: click on the pictures to get more information.
Church:
The Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist church is located in the historic centre (Casco Viejo) of Bilbao, in the street “Calle de la Cruz”. It was founded by the jesuits in 1617 as a church for the Saint Andrews college, which was located outside of the city wall, in a place which had not been part of the seven original streets of Bilbao.
As it is common for the jesuit churches, its ground plan forms a rectangle with chapels on both sides of the central nave.
Today, the cloister and the premises of the college are used by the Euskal Museoa – the Basque Museum.
Patronage:
Rafael is one of the archangels who are mentioned in the Bible. His name means, “God has healed”. He is depicted with a fish – symbol for a spiritual recovery and the recovery of life – with whose gall he helped Tobias to heal his father-in-law from blindness.
Furthermore, he carries a walking stick, which shows that he is a great hiker. Together with Saint Christopher, Saint Roch and Saint James the Apostle, he is one of the Patron Saints of pilgrims.
According to the tradition, he is the archangel who is closest to humanness. He was sent by God to alleviate pain and suffering.
Description:
The single body 
The altarpiece is divided into three sections: the lower part with the altar table and the 
The decoration is characterised by its smooth and refined forms, which are proper to the rococo: 
History:
In 1742, the director of the Jesuits Saint Andrews college (today Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist church) ordered this altarpiece.
It was paid with donations from private persons and from institutions, in particular the council of Bilbao.
Sculptures:
Saint Rafael.
Rafael is one of the archangels who are mentioned in the Bible. In his left hand, he is holding a fish with whose gall he helped Tobias to heal his father-in-law from blindness.
In his right hand, he carries a walking stick, which identifies him as the patron of travellers. Therefore, he also wears a leather robe on his shoulders, called pellegrina, which is decorated with the shells of the pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.
The sculpture is a high quality carving, which stands out for its expressive face, the movement of the clothes and the careful polychromy.