Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mrs. Sylvia
Amorsolo-Lazo confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance:
Private Collection, USA
Cynthia Colpitts, from Durham, North Carolina, inherited the
two Amorsolos from her father, Clayton Leonard Seitz who
was the vice president for Cornelius Vandrebilt Starr and Co
Insurance in the Philippines. They were incarcerated in the
Sto. Tomas Camp in Manila for 3 years, where Cynthia was
born. Her mom was pregnant when they entered the camp.
To her recollection her dad got the paintings from Amorsolo
before the war in Manila.

ABOUT THE WORK

Fernando Amorsolo significantly contributed to shaping the image of the ideal Filipina. Amorsolo's depiction of the Filipina in an illuminated setting aimed to capture the alluring charm of her natural appearance and attractiveness. Despite having studied in Western schools, his portrayal of the Filipina is devoid of Western-centric beauty standards and notions. This pursuit visually resonates in this 1928 piece depicting a smiling lady clad in a terno. Painted during his "Golden Period," Amorsolo portrays a young Filipina maiden reminiscent of Jose Rizal's Maria Clara. For Amorsolo, "the ideal Filipina beauty should not necessarily be white complexioned, nor of the dark brown color of the typical Malayan, but of the clear skin or flesh-colored type which we often witness when we meet a blushing girl." Amorsolo perfectly encapsulates his mastery of Luminism. The whole composition gives off a euphoric radiance due to his blissful depiction of the woman. Until his passing in 1972, Amorsolo constantly redefined his interpretation of the classic Filipina charisma that has become one of his defining legacies in Philippine art.