Torre was a prolific sculptor. His oeuvre included portraits, commemorative monuments, religious statues and processional figures, plus a great many Costumbrist and socially-themed works. His pieces stand out for the quality of his technique, their great realism and their expressiveness, which is closely linked to the work of Belgian sculptor Constantin Meunier (b. 1831 - d. 1905) and to Spanish sculpture from the 16th and 17th centuries. Although they are always realistic, his portraits show variations in their intensity of expression, from the highly natural to idealised classical traits.  Allegory of Vizcaya demonstrates his wish to capture precisely the physical features and character of the figure, and showcases his expertise as a carver. This bronze relief was donated to the Banco de España by the Chamber of Commerce of Bilbao. It pays tribute to motherhood, fishing and agriculture, and symbolically to the arts, to science and to industry.

Beatriz Espejo