World titles, including 1 Philippine record, set at León Gallery’s mid-year auction

Etherfield by Augusto Albor was sold for P2.4 million just four lots into the auction, followed by A Country Scene by Guillermo Tolentino, which the artist gifted to revolutionary hero Benito Natividad and his wife Amalia. The latter had a significant surge from its initial price—from P200,000 to a record-breaking P4.6 million. It was followed by Isabel Diaz’s Untitled, which was secured for P3.3 million. 

From legal luminary J. Antonio Araneta’s valuable collection, Window Shopping by Juvenal Sanso was sold for P8.7 million. Country Life by Ramon Peralta, meanwhile, was sold for P934,000.

Edwin Wilwayco’s David’s Column and Marc Aran Reyes’ Sad Emitting Pancake also broke world records after raking in P1.2 million and P9.9 million, respectively. 

Romulo Olazo’s piece Diaphonous B-XLIV was sold for P25.1 million, marking a world record for the artist. According to León Gallery, two phone bidders had an “intense battle” for the artwork that “left everyone in the room glued to their seats as they witnessed the piece catapult to almost four times its starting price.” 

Anita Magsaysay-Ho proved she’s still the “Queen of Auctions” following the sale of The Good Life at P13.4 million as well as Women with Flowers at P31.5 million. 

According to León Gallery, the legacy of Fernando Amorsolo was evident at the affair as artworks from each period of his career did well. “One of the earliest depictions of his favorite muse, the Dalagang Bukid, found in Gen. Carlos P. Romulo's art collection, locked in at PHP 10.5 million, while a rare 1938 moonlight scene gleamed at PHP 5.6 million,” it said. 

Held on Saturday, June 17, the Spectacular Mid-Year Auction showcased people’s “unwavering salute to the best and finest in Philippine art.” It coincided with the 125th anniversary of the country’s independence as well as the homecoming of Juan Luna’s long-lost masterpiece, Hymen, oh Hyménée!, which is on display in the Philippines for the first time ever at the Ayala Museum.