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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Leon Gallery’s spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2017

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Leon Gallery’s Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2017 is the most breathtaking selection of highly important works in a single sale to date. Jaime Ponce de Leon, León Gallery director, as well as curators Ramon N. Villegas and Lisa Guerrero Nakpil have selected some of the most dazzling pieces.

Works from two of the artists that were featured at the Venice Biennale are included, namely: Fernando Zobel in the Spanish Pavilion in 1962, and Jose Joya in the Philippine Pavilion in 1964.

Incidentally, Zobel returns to the spotlight in an official collateral event of this year’s Biennale at the Fondaco Marcello running until Nov. 26.

Fernando Amorsolo – Princess Urduja (1934)

At Leon Gallery’s upcoming auction, Zobel is represented by two works, including a stunning homage to Francisco de Zurbaran’s Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose (1633) and now a jewel in the crown at the Norton Simon Museum in the United States. Various European artists, including Velasquez and Turner, had a strong influence on Zobel. According to Don Rafael Perez-Madero, internationally renowned expert on Zobel, this work is a second version of another one in a prestigious private collection.

Nakpil noted that the work Carcass (1962) by Jose Joya was, in fact, exhibited at the 32nd Venice Biennale, along with his eight other paintings. She said that two of the works now repose in institutions: Granadian Arabesque at the Ateneo Art Gallery and Hills of Nikko at the Singapore National Gallery, on loan from the Philippine National Museum. “It was the first time the country was invited to participate, thanks to lobbying by Purita Kalaw Ledesma and the Art Association of the Philippines,” she added.

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Ang Kiukok – Fishermen (1981)

Also on the roster is Fishermen by Ang Kiukok from 1981. Art critics contend that Ang Kiu Kok produced his best works in the early 80’s. To add to the allure of this particular piece is that it’s impressive size and done in oi, measuring 40 x 80 inches, as noted by Ponce de Leon. Three sinuously muscular fishermen cast their nets; there are seven gigantic fishes symbolizing the bounty of life. A red sun burns above. This theme is a most desired subject of the artist. Furthermore, the artist’s name “Ang” can be seen spelled out in the position of the fishermen.

Then there is Pila sa Bigas by Vicente Manansala (1979).  Manansala was the most successful artist of his generation and he enjoyed the attention of the beautiful women of society who lined up to pay tribute to him in Binangonan.  This work was one the major pieces the artist created during that period — and is a masterpiece of the highest level.

Nena Saguil – Untitled (1988)

No one knew that a masterpiece, as Fabian de la Rosa’s Hat Weavers existed in Hollywood. Actor George O’Brien acquired this important work when he visited the Philippines before the war.  There are two other known versions of this work in important private collections. O’Brien was a certified silent-movie heart throb in the 1920s, doing several films for director John Ford and would become a successful cowboy-movie star with the advent of the talkies well into the 1930s. In the ‘40s, he re-united with old friend Ford to make films in Asian countries, including Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

Another piece to be noted is the historic and intricately carved Isabelo Tampinco bed of Maxima Viola, best friend of Jose Rizal, known as the man who financed Noli Me Tangere hence saving the book from never being published. The bed frame, in the form of a corona of an entablature, is carved with a serrated frieze of joined upended triangles incised with diamond-shaped depressions that give an impression of stylized anahaw leaves. A boss is carved below the junction of each triangle, while a cymatium molding decorates the upper edge of the bedframe. The mattress support is caned in one piece. The foot posts, carved in the shape of a short areca palm, has a crown shaft terminating in a stylized ionic capital consisting of a small anahaw leaf on a thorny stem at the center flanked by an ionic scroll. A garland of sampaguitas and ylang-ylang is entwined and hangs from the upper canes. Surrounding the bamboo frame are whiplash vines bearing camote leaves and flowers, while small anahaw leaf quadrants are carved at the corners. These are only some of the many details that can be admired on the bed’s design. 

Vicente Manansala – Pila sa Bigas (1979)

Momentous pieces from Nena Saguil, the first woman abstract artist in the Philippines, are also included. A photograph of Saguil in her apartment-atelier with among her last paintings in 1992 shows the artist in spectacles beside the untitled 1988 work that is among the highlights. The photo may be seen in the catalog, proof of the authenticity of the piece. The work is covered with thousands of fine hairlines that rain on the painting, swerving into angles at the bottom.

Ponce de Leon noted, “It is rare that these museum-quality artworks are exhibited at a single place — rarer still that they all come to market and to be sold in a single sale.”  

The Tampinco Bed of Maximo Viola(1909)

Leon Gallery invites everyone to the ongoing preview that ends on June 9.  The Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2017 is at 2 p.m. on June 10.

The catalog may be viewed or downloaded at www.leon-gallery.com. Like and follow @LeonGalleryMakati on Facebook and Instagram for more updates.

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