Works by key modern masters Fernando Zobel, Diosdado Lorenzo, Macario Vitalis, Romeo Tabuena and National Artist Jose Joya will lead León Gallery’s 12th online auction under its Leonexchange platform on July 20-21.
Joya (1931-1995), whose abstract masterpiece “Space Transfiguration” was sold by León in March 2018 for P112.28 million, thereby becoming the most expensive Philippine painting on record, is represented in the auction by a genre representational work, “Mother and Child.”
The 1989 pastel-on-paper is along the line of indigenization of western genre works and shows the Madonna in Filipino baro’t saya cradling the naked infant.
Zobel (1924-1984) is a pioneering abstractionist, but he is represented in the auction by “Botijo,” a 1964 oil-on-paper depicting the Spanish clay water jug.
Italy-trained Lorenzo (1906-1984), one of the original Thirteen Artists who led the Philippine modern art movement in the reckoning of National Artist Victorio Edades, is represented by the 1978 oil-on-canvas “Barrio Scene.”
The oil-on-canvas by Brittany-based Vitalis (1898-1990) is “Untitled” but it is a really a genre work—a “Pieta”—which shows the Madonna cradling the naked body of Christ at the foot of the cross.
Mexixo-based Tabuena (1921-2015) is represented by the figurative work, “Three Villagers,” a 1960 oil-on-wood that depicts women farmers in the harvest field.
Another genre work to be auctioned off is Elias Laxa’s “Binondo Church,” a 1967 mixed-media showing the famous church with the fountain at Plaza Calderon de la Barca, now th Plaza de San Lorenzo Ruiz, in the foreground.
A very striking realist work is Romulo Galicano’s 1982 oil-on-canvas, “Old House,” showing a corner of a Philippine house with the familiar Catholic makeshift altar filled with religious icons. Beside it is a life-size statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The very exacting work could almost be mistaken for a photograph.
Among contemporary works is auction darling Andres Barrioquinto’s “100 Flowers Bloom,” a 2014 oil-on-canvas that shows the artist’s ingenious melding of the portraiture and floral genres.
A very interesting contemporary sculpture is Iya Consorio’s “Untitled,” a resin work depicting a fantastic multi-eyed female figure under whose skirt emerges octopus-like tentacles.
Other lots in the online auction include fine jewelry, furniture pieces and objets d’art.
“There is something for all art collectors and enthusiasts as well as for those who simply want to live with beautiful and stylish things,” said León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de León.
“The auction,” added the León Gallery director, “is wholly online and bidding is through its online platform, www. leonexchange.com.”
Preview of lots will be at León Gallery at both W14 La Fuerza Plaza, and Eurovilla 1, Rufino and Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. —CONTRIBUTED
