Ignacio Juan Latorre Aparicio
TELEPHONE:
ADDRESS:
Calle Major Santa María 50, 46600, Alzira
ACTIVITY
Ignacio Latorre is a specialist in craft stonework and hand-carving. He makes stone sculptures, working with marble, granite or any other natural stone.
He is proficient in the use of traditional hand tools for stonework, ranging from stone-polishing tools to maul blades, toothed stone axes, bush… hammers, rasps, smooth axes, picks, point chisels, flat chisels, tooth hammers and square and round hammers, among others. He also uses electric and hydraulic tools, especially in the early stages of jobs, including pneumatic hammers, milling cutters and rotary or hammer drills.
Much of his work has been in restorations of artistic heritage: stone arches and vaults, crack stitching and diverse stone features such as columns, window frames, portals, stairways, pinnacles, capitals, cornices or gargoyles.
He also believes that stonemasonry must be a collective task, for great heritage buildings such as are to be found across our country can be created only by practitioners working in conjunction.
TRAINING
Ignacio Latorre studied at the Valencia Craft School with Luis Massoni, and graduated in fine art at the Valencia Polytechnic University (2004), specialising in sculpture.
This was how he became involved in stonework. Since then he has specialised also in research as a sculptor and stone… restorer.
TEACHING
Introductory courses at the Arts School of Úbeda.
SELECTED WORK
He has made various public sculptures and has worked in heritage restoration for over 15 years. The following are notable examples of his work, in chronological order:
2004 – Exterior stonework, including refitting and repointing, at the Cathedral of Sant Mateu in Castellón
2005 – Inspection and… adjustment of the original Gothic vault of the Church of San Pedro (Castellón)
Stonework and imagery at the Valencia Silk Exchange
Dismantling, assembly and transportation of the Fountain of Newts in the Viveros Gardens (Valencia)
Repair of wooden roofing at the Church of La Pobla de Benifassà (Castellón province)
Stone portal of the Convent of La Santa Faz (Alicante)
Stone portal of the Church of Calles (Valencia province)
Stone campanile and cornice at the Church of San Nicolás (Valencia)
2006 – Fountain in honour of water in the Viveros Gardens (Valencia)
Stone portal and cornice of the Collegiate Church of Xátiva (Valencia province)
Stone arches and vaults of the refectory and parlour at the Monastery of Simat de la Valldigna (Valencia province)
2007 – Supervision of polishing on the plinth of the main facade of Valencia city hall
Stonemasonry and fitting of stonework in the Quart Towers (Valencia)
Work at the Convent of Sant Mateu (Castellón)
Stonework in the apse of the Chapel of San Roque in Jérica (Castellón province)
Pedestals for Roman sculptures at Segóbriga (Cuenca province)
2008 – Masonry in the aqueduct of Montanejos (Castellón province)
Repair of the plinth inside the Basilica of Valencia
Restoration of the chapter hall and erection of a vault in the Castle of Montesa (Valencia)
Restoration and carving of a capital for a church in Burriana (Castellón province)
2009 – Chapter hall in the monastery adjoining the Collegiate Church of Xátiva (Valencia province), including stonework in Gothic capitals and jambs and bases of the main doorway and side windows
Restoration of the font of San Vicente in natural stone and recovery and recomposition of original Baroque sgraffiti in the Church of San Esteban (Valencia)
2010 – Carving in Capri limestone of the main sculptures on the rear facade of the Church of Santa María in Alcoy (Alicante province): Virgin with child (2.5m) and Saint Maur (1.80m)
2011 – Stonework at the Monastery of La Santísima Trinidad (Valencia)
2012 – Repair and restoration of three crosses and a portal in Gandía
2013 – Restoration work in the apse and replacement of lost stone volumes in Gothic windows and cornices along with the erection of a complete abutment, at Valencia Cathedral
2014 – Interior restoration work including replacement of lost volume in lime-stucco passages imitating Buscarró marble in the María Auxiliadora School in Valencia
2015 – Restoration and nine complete volumes of stonework in the portal of the Convent of Les Llúcies (Alzira)
Dressing and fitting of ashlars and quoins by the interior gallery of the Church of San Nicolás (Valencia)
2016 – Restoration of the stone threshold in the entrance to the Madre Auxiliadora School in Alcudia (Valencia province)
2017 – Restoration of the sculptural ensemble over the main facade and restoration of 12m of ostionera stone cornice on the right-hand facade of the city hall of San Fernando (Cádiz province)
2018 – Restoration of plaster reliefs in Meliana (Valencia province), including recomposition of fragments, fibre-rod reinforcement and patina finish. Restoration and refitting with lead of a collapsed Gothic arch in Calle Chulvi (Alzira)
2019 – Restoration of a 21m stretch of cut-stone channel at the Silos of Burjassot (Valencia province)
