The Beauty and Wonder of Fernando Amorsolo's Paintings

In addition to Early California Paintings, William A. Karges Fine Art also acquires and sells paintings by a variety of Early Philippine artists, including Fernando Amorsolo (1892 - 1972), Fernando Zobel (1824 - 1984), Victorio Edades (1895 - 1985), Lee Aguinaldo (1933 - 2007), Anita Magsaysay-Ho (1914-2012), Jose Clemente Orozco (1883 - 1949), and Vietnamese artist Le Pho (1907 - 2001).

Fernando Amorsolo
"Bather by the Water"
SOLD

Fernando Zobel
"Abstract, 1964"
SOLD

The most widely known artist of this genre is Fernando Amorsolo, who was born in Calle Herran in Paco, Manila, on May 20, 1892, and is best remembered for his landscapes of the countryside in the Philippines, incorporating figures working in the fields. He is also known for his portraits and WWII war scenes. When Amorsolo was 13 years old, his father passed away.  He and his family moved to the home of his mother’s cousin, artist Don Fabian dela Rosa, in Manila.  He began to study, and began to sell his drawings.  In 1909, he began studies at the Liceo de Manila and graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1914. He then attended the Academia de San Fernando in Madrid. Painter Diego Velasquez was an influence on his work at this time in his career.  During WWII, Amorsolo painted in Manila. The style of his work changed at this time, from a brighter palette focusing on landscape paintings, to a more serious, somber style that often featured wartime scenes, self-portraits, and scenes that included Japanese occupation soldiers.

Following the war he returned to painting landscape scenes of the countryside and portraits.

Throughout his life he worked as an teacher, a draftsman for the Public Works, chief artist for the Pacific Commercial Company, illustrator for children’s books and magazines, and served as Director at the School of Fine Arts before he retired in the early 1950s.   Near the end of his life, Amorsolo continued painting even though his health was declining. He was married twice and had 13 children before he died of a heart attack on April 24, 1972.

We invite you to visit William A. Karges Fine Art's website for additional information about Fernando Amorsolo. If you are interested in selling or purchasing a painting by any of these historical Philippine artists, feel free to contact our experts at (800) 833-9185 or email gallery@kargesfineart.com.