Leon Gallery wishes to thank Mrs. Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo for confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Private Collection, Makati City

ABOUT THE WORK

The visual order of the picture is made more explicitly apparent by large contrasts of light and dark and by a low point of sight and horizon line that subtly flatten the composition. Combined, the shadowy church spires and the bright vertical cloud create a convincing illusion of spatial depth on one hand and a luminously atmospheric distance on the other respectively, It is curious that while the silhouette of the spires of the San Sebastian church are darkly toned, and swiftly painted, and depicts the mood of sunset; the clouds that tower above the church is high keyed, and deftly painted and depicts the scene in a delicate morning light. The breadth of Amorsolo’s execution obscures the other details such as the dark blurs — which are actually a copse of trees at the lower right — in order to contribute to the painting’s ebullient energy. The picture is full of mood and implication even without the presence of people. The painting owes its impressiveness not only to its solemn colors and dramatic lighting but also to its trees. The overall delicacy takes the awesome majesty of sunrise or sunset and renders the Old Manila skyline intimate and somehow, with a sentimental melancholy.