Barcelona 1887.
The Bar Association's board comissioned two young architects (Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia i Josep Domènech i Estapà) draft a courthouse.

The architects were aware of the importance an complexity of de commision. As a declaration os principles they stated their intention to “ give Barcelona a building that, like the monumental Law Courts os Brussels, would be admired by the present time if only for its dimensions and the successful resolution of some point of the construction”.

Both in the towers and in the dome corresponding to the central block, the architechs applied a Neo-gotich decoration with gargoyles, griffons wits decorative tails coats of arms and greenish-blue tiles.

The significance of the Palau de Justícia must be considered in the framework of the urban growth market bu the “eixample” expansion area. When it was designed, the Palau was to be the largest publicly-owned building in the city, with colossal dimensions.

The building is classified as a historical eclecticism. It has modernism's elements (basically materials, architectural solutions and ornamentation)

The ornamentation and decoration was entrusted to various artists at the time.


A reference to the economic environment

The facades are decorated with 48 statues of famous people. They measure 2.40 meters high and are made of Montjuïc sandstone. Prices are 2,000 pesetas each one.
Thera are also 22 reliefs decorate the facade. Each measures 3.60 meters long and 1 meter high. The price was also 2,000 pesetas.

The sculpture that main portico, Moses dictating the catalog of the law to Israel, flanked by two allegorical figures (Law in spanish and law the regions) measured 3.10 meters high, its author was Agustí Querol and your price 15.000 pesetas.

The average annual salary in 1900:
- A skilled worker, man in the textile industry: annual salary of 1,078 pesetas
- A skilled worker, woman, (a spinner) annual salary of 641.90 pesetas .