Fernando Amorsolo is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. He was the first Philippine National Artist.

FERNANDO AMORSOLO

After his father's death, Amorsolo and his family moved to Manila to live with Don Fabian de la Rosa, his mother's cousin and a Philippine painter. At the age of 13 Amorsolo became an apprentice to De la Rosa.

Amorsolo spent seven months in Spain and also visited New York. Upon his return to Manila Amorsolo set up his own studio and painted prodigiously during the 1920s and the 1930s. His Rice Planting (1922), which appeared on posters and tourist brochures, became one of the most popular images of the Commonwealth era. His optimistic, pastoral images set the tone for Philippine painting before World War II. Except for his darker World War II-era paintings, Amorsolo painted quiet and peaceful scenes throughout his career.

The volume of paintings, sketches and studies of Amorsolo is believed to have reached more than 10,000 pieces. Amorsolo's small landscapes, especially those of his early career, have been judged as his best works.

30 May 1892

to 26 April 1972