Rafael was the family’s second-oldest son. He was active in the family business and served as procurator and manager at the Noormarkku plant and the company’s second director and board member. Despite his dedication to the family business, Tyra describes Rafael in her memoirs to be more interested in music and literature than in the intricacies of the business. Music and literature were also what Tyra and Rafael bonded over and were one of the many things that made their sibling bond so special.

Rafael was tragically killed in the Civil War in 1918. In his will, he specified, that a considerable proportion of his fortune would be donated to charity to support the newly independent nation. Rafael Ahlström also supported the work against lung disease, however, as a great friend of art and culture, the greater part of his will was dedicated to music, composition, singing, painting and visual arts, and fiction.

His donation was handed over to the City of Helsinki. The Finnish Art Association received support from a donation fund, and from 1922 onwards, the funds began to acquire works of art for the Ateneum Art Museum. From these works, the so-called Ahlström Collection was born. The collection consists of 482 works from around 80 artists, such as Fanny Chuberg (1877–1918), Wäinö Aaltonen (1894-1966), Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), Akseli Gallen Kallela (1865-1931) and many more.

To the Ahlström Collection also belongs renowned pieces such as “Boys Playing on the Shore” by Albert Edelfelt (1854- 1905) and the “Wounded Angel” by Hugo Simberg (1873-1917), which was voted as “Finland’s national painting”.