(b Logroño, 26 Dec 1759; d Madrid, 1842). Spanish sculptor and ceramicist. He moved to Madrid at an early age and was apprenticed to the French sculptor Robert Michel (i), who was employed at the court. He won first prize in a competition at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes, and organized the royal workshop for the carving of precious stones, where he executed two magnificent cameo portraits of Charles IV and Queen Maria Luisa (c. 1796; Madrid, Pal. Real). He was a leading sculptor in the Buen Retiro porcelain factory, for which he produced a large amount of work. In 1797 he entered the Real Academia de Bellas Artes and was promoted until he was finally appointed Director-general in 1821. He was also appointed Honorary Chamber Sculptor to Charles IV. His successful career made him an influential figure in Spanish art. He was one of the leading exponents of Neo-classical sculpture, producing works that were technically accomplished although stylistically rather cold. He executed a large amount of work between 1792 and 1804 for the gardens of the Palacio Real at Aranjuez, including the fountain and statues of Neptune, the Ceres fountain and the children on the Apollo fountain. He produced such notable religious works as the two Angels (c. 1802) in the chapel of the Palacio Real de Madrid. He also made the models for the allegorical sculptures of the Second of May obelisk (1823; Madrid, Paseo del Prado), commemorating the heroes who died in the uprising against Napoleon in 1808.