Despite the many unparalleled challenges that confronted the world this year, including the art scene, León Gallery ends the year on a high note, as it stages “The Kingly Treasures Auction 2020.”
Slated on November 28 at Eurovilla 1 (Legazpi corner Rufino Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati), starting 2 p.m., the auction features some of the finest and most coveted Filipino artworks, antiques and various ephemera.
Top-billing the 155 lots are two works by National Artist H R Ocampo: “Tempo Rubato” (22”x28”, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1949) and“Homage to A Lady” (24”x36”, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1967).
Translated literally to “robbed time,” “Tempo Rubato” is a carnival of colors and forms that alludes to the discretionary freedom taken by musicians to make music that is more expressive, natural and free. The piece is also representative of the artist’s transition to Neorealism.
In many ways, the artwork is also a milestone that marked the period after the artist’s detention as well as a paean to his wife who died during that bleak period in Ocampo’s life.
“Homage to A Lady,” a swirling constellation of emeralds and citrines that came as a gift from then First Lady Imelda R Marcos, was painted in the same year Ocampo did “Genesis.” Dubbed by many art critics as his most important work, the masterpiece hangs at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It also reaffirmed Ocampo’s reputation as the “Father of Philippine Modern Abstraction.”
Other noteworthy works from the 13 Moderns and pioneers of Philippine Neo-Realism are “Miners” (63.5”x62”, oil on wood, signed and dated 1979) by National Artist Cesar Legaspi; “New York” (40”x28”, oil on panel, signed and dated 1951) by filmmaker-artist Ramon Estella; and “First Homage to Salvia” (33.5”x16.5”, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1954) by Victor Oteyza.
In June 17, 1950, Ocampo, Legaspi, Estella, Oteyza and Romeo Tabuena had their first public exhibit at the Manila Hotel’s Rotary Room courtesy of the Art Association of the Philippines.
Other unique works include “Barrio Fiesta” (37”x58.75”, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1964), a pointillist work done without mixing colors on canvas, by Macario Vitalisfrom Ilocos Sur; “Untitled” (18”x24”, oil on panel, signed and dated 1960), a poetic gestural color rendition of the Filipino soul, by National Artist Jose Joya(1931-1995) from Manila; and “Linear No. 36” (36”x36”, AquaTec on marine plywood, signed and dated March 18, 1966), a play on light and shadow done using centuries-old gesso techniques used in preparing wood for religious icons, by Lee Aguinaldo(1933-2007) from New York.
Spectacular gems from living artists are the monochromatic abstractions of “Sabel” with red and white accents honoring Arturo Luz in “Homage to Turing” (45”x84”, acrylic on canvas, signed and dated 2006) by National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera; the strong green muscular women in “Bold with Passion” (58”x32”x1.5”, oil on wood, signed and dated 2019 lower left) by Lydia Velasco; and, the satirical living room commentary in “Indoor Living II” (36”x60”, mixed media on canvas, signed and dated 2016) by Richard Quebral.
Also featured is a fascinating bucolic scene called “A Farmhouse in Normandy” (7.5”x9.5”, oil on board, signed lower right c1900) by Félix Resurrección Hidalgo from the collection of Antonio “Tony” Meer, direct descendant of revolutionary hero General Miguel Malvar.
Meanwhile, two works from the school of Félix Resurreccion Hidalgopay homage to the prize-winning Filipino art luminary: “After Hidalgo, El Pescador de Sucag” (26”x44”, oil on canvas, signed by Castellon and dated 1886) and “After Hidalgo, La Blanca” (26”x44”, oil on canvas, signed by Castellon and dated 1886).
These riverine compositions from a private collection in Bilbao, Spain are products of the classical art academy training of copying the works of the masters.
Works by National Artists Fernando Amorsolo, Victorio Edades, Ang Kiukok, Arturo Luz, Vicente Manansala and Jerry Elizalde Navarro are on the block alongside pieces from masters Oscar Zalameda, Mauro Malang Santos, Nena Saguil, Alfonso Ossorio and Antipas Delotavo.
Also gracing the yearend sale are works by contemporary stars Annie Cabigting, Norman Dreo, Nona Garcia, Emmanuel Garibay and Yasmin Sison.
Other equally remarkable finds are: an 18th-century ivory La Sagrada Familia from the Don Antonio Bantug Collection, a late 19th-century molave Hagabi or Ifugao “prestige bench” from the Osmundo Esguerra Collection and a historic Christmas letter of Juna Luna to his son Andres Luna.
You can view the e-catalogue and all the lots for auction at https://en.calameo.com/read/00465630533a3ffe2e162
For more information, visit www.leon-gallery.com, call +632 88562781 or email us at info@leon-gallery.com.
