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

Provenance: Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by Mrs. Ethel Thomas Herold in 1951, thence by descent.

ABOUT THE WORK

National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s legacy endures in the present day as his genre and portrait masterpieces are still coveted and valued by art collectors and enthusiasts. A master of luminism and realism, Amorsolo is best known for capturing Filipino culture and identity through his treatment of Philippine landscapes, subjects, and society portraits. Art historian Eric Torres described Amorsolo’s paintings as overflowing with sweetness and optimism, asserting that he “captures on canvas the vibrant tropical Philippine sunlight.” In this masterpiece, there is a delicate balance between faithful depiction of a local landscape scene and the master artist’s imagination of heightened imagery. Rich in detail, his backlighting technique called chiaroscuro that gives his works a characteristic glow is showcased. Here, featured are local folks enjoying a serene late afternoon in which the sun is about to set and the orange sky gives off a moment of calm. These folks are under the glory of the flame tree and its blossom-laden branches. It is a classical, romantic scene immortalized by Amorsolo’s creative diction and mastery of light and shadow, poetic optimism and patriotism.