PROPERTY FROM A VERY IMPORTANT COLLECTOR

Provenance: Manila

ABOUT THE WORK

A Historic Relleve by AUGUSTO MARCELINO REYES GONZALEZ III During the Conquista of 1571, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and his crew sailed around the Visayas. They were met with hostility in Cebu and a member of their expedition was killed. They captured a Bornean vessel and the crew explained to them that the natives of the islands regularly traded with them. They were headed for Mindanao when the winds forced them to land in Bohol island. They were also met with hostility, but their Malay interpreter explained that they were only looking to trade, not to capture slaves like the Portuguese, so the Boholanons reconsidered. Datu Sikatuna of Bohol then invited Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to a Blood Compact to seal their friendship. Each leader made a small cut on his left arm or breast and let two or three drops of his blood into the wine. The mixture was mixed and divided equally into two cups then drunk by the two leaders to formalize their friendship and good intentions. The sculptor Graciano Nepomuceno belonged to the prestigious “Gremio de los Escultores” based in Santa Cruz, Manila during the last years of the nineteenth century. His work was a continuation of the classical traditions practiced by his predecessors, seniors, and colleagues Romualdo de Jesus, Isabelo Tampinco, Manuel Flores, Crispulo Hocson, et al. His professional life centered on the production of historical, religious, and genre imagery distinguished by their careful renditions and lifelike characters; Graciano Nepomuceno productions were distinct and easily discerned from commercial productions. His projects included statuary and bas–reliefs for churches, sculpture for government buildings, and smaller images, reliefs, and genre figures for residences. The charming genre figures of Filipino country life carved and signed by Graciano Nepomuceno are currently in great demand by Filipiniana collectors. This bas–relief of the “Sandugo” was one of three pieces with similar historical themes given by Graciano Nepomuceno as gifts to a close friend from Marinduque island.