Copy of declaration of PH independence, Fernando Amorsolo's 'Under the Mango Tree' sold for record-breaking prices at Leon Gallery auction
Another historic moment was carved in the Philippines' art scene as Fernando Amorsolo's Under the Mango Tree and a copy of the Philippine Declaration of Independence were sold for a whopping P57.6 million and P11.4 million, respectively.
According to Leon Gallery, a new record was just set during the gallery's Magnificent September Auction this weekend when Amorsolo's art was sold at P 57,676,800.
This surpassed the previous record of National Artist's 1931 piece, Mango Gatherers, which sold at P46.7 million in 2018 at the local gallery.
Likewise, the piece, Under the Mango Tree, which is from the collection of the industrialist and Father of Philippine Air-conditioning Edward J. Nell, is now the most expensive Amorsolo art in the world.
Meanwhile, the manuscript copy of the 1898 Philippine Declaration of Independence, or the Acta de la Proclamacion de Independencia del Pueblo Filipino, also set another world record for the highest price ever paid for a single document, doubling the benchmark paid for the previous record holder, a letter of Andres Bonifacio to Emilio Jacinto.
Under the Mango Tree, measuring 38x38 inches, depicts Filipinos living under a tree among the vibrant splendor of the fields. A momentary respite from the day's heat and bustle, Amorsolo depicts a loving tableau that emphasizes the connection between family, labor, and community.
On the other hand, in a report by 24 Oras, Leon Gallery founder and director Jaime Ponce de Leon said that copy of the 1898 Philippine Declaration of Independence, which is the only copy of the original held by the National Library, served as the country's "birth certificate."
It was written by Ambrosio Rianzares Bautista and a copy was made by Jose Banuelo, one of the soldiers of General Emilio Aguinaldo.
Leon Gallery is a Philippine auction house specializing in culturally important & museum-quality art, antiques, and historical objects.
According to its website, it sells various unique items, including old master drawings, paintings, furniture, rare books, maps and documents, jewelry, and photographs.