Fabian de la Rosa (SAN FERNANDO DE PACO, MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 1869 - QUIAPO, 1937)

Lot description

Fabian de la Rosa (San Fernando de Paco, Manila, Philippines, 1869 - Quiapo, 1937) "Portrait of Mestiza" Oil on canvas. Signed and situated in Manila. 76,5 x 46 cm. Fabian de la Rosa was a prominent Filipino artist known for his portraits and scenes of Filipino life. Born in Manila in 1869, he received his first art lessons at the age of 10 and later studied at the School of Fine Arts and Drawing. In 1893, he entered the Escuela Superior de Pintura and received classes from renowned artists. In 1908, he obtained a scholarship and traveled to Europe, where he studied at the Académie Julian in Paris. Upon his return, he became a professor at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts and was also a mentor to other artists. De la Rosa was recognized for his grace and skill in painting, capturing the essence of Filipino life and leaving a lasting legacy in the Philippine art community. Moreover, during his career as director of the School of Fine Arts, he had the opportunity to showcase his talent in painting, making trips to Europe and developing different styles. Initially, his style was academic and focused on formal portraits. Then, during his second visit to Europe, his art underwent a transition to a softer and more atmospheric style, influenced by the realism of Gustave Courbet and French painting. In his later works, De la Rosa focused on the use of color and painted Filipino motifs dressed in ethnic costumes in different scenes. His European training and mastery of the brush raised the standards for later artists, and he is considered a pioneer and one of the leading Filipino painters of the 20th century. Fabian de la Rosa died on December 15, 1938 in his Manila apartment.