The woman behind Fernando Amorsolo’s unfinished work.
First National Artist’s Last Work at the National Museum.
In 2018, the identity of the woman behind Fernando Amorsolo’s unfinished work was finally identified after years of research.
The said work was just sitting in one of the galleries of the National Museum along with other portraits of Filipina achievers by Amorsolo, including that of Vergel De Dios, Alicia Callejo Castro, and Dr. Felicidad Crus Castro.
The work was part of the donation made by Amorsolo’s widow, Maria del Carmen Zaragoza, which also included his studio memorabilia, pieces of furniture, and hundreds of drawings.
The identity of the mysterious woman found a lead when socialite Judy Araneta Roxas toured the museum in March 2016 where she remarked that it was Florencia “Nena” Belo- mother of the famed doctor Vicki Belo.
Archival data and interviews confirming the said claim were finally confirmed by the National Museum on October 27, 2018.
The unfinished portrait was Amorsolo’s last work when he passed away on April 24, 1972, due to heart failure at the age of 79. Four days after his death, he was honored as the first National Artist in Painting.
The volume of paintings, sketches, and studies of Amorsolo is believed to have reached more than 10,000 pieces and was an important influence on contemporary Filipino art and artists.
References:
Wikipedia, Spot.ph
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