Fernando Amorsolo (1892 - 1972)
An Officer and a Gentleman (Portrait ofMajor Daniel Stroder Robertson U.S.Cavalry, Veterinary Corps.)
signed and dated 1937 (lower left)
oil on canvas
37 1/2" x 26 1/2" (95 cm x 67 cm)


Accompanied by a certificate issued by Mrs. SylviaAmorsolo-Lazo confirming the authenticity of this lot
PROVENANCECommissioned and acquired directly from the artist by Col. Daniel S.Roberston of the U.S. Cavalry, when he was stationed at Fort McKinley,Taguig; as evidenced by an official receipt from the artist's studiosigned by Fernando C. Amorsolo, 2132 Azcarraga Street, Manila andreceived on his behalf by ML Buenaventura on 1 Dec. 1937; madeout to Col. Robertson for final payment in the amount of P60 for ‘hispicture in oil’; from thence by descent to his daughter Del RobertsonDowling of Berkeley, California; then as a gift to her first cousinElizabeth Darphin Callender



Art historians agree that Amorsolo’s golden years spanned the period from the First World War to the Second; and his portraits from the 1930s representing the height of his powers, honed by the demands of a colonial clientele. Then as now, Amorsolo’s studio, said his biographer Alfredo R. Roces, was “still filled with about a half a dozen portraits in various stage of completion.” He noted, Amorsolo was a master portraitist, since his forte was a figure painting. “Even his genre works are essentially of people, with the landscape and rendering of light serving as elements to bring out a face or several faces. Amorsolo liked to do portraits of members of his family. He even did self-portraits.” This painting of an American cavalry officer in Manila depicts a ram-rod straight gentleman, with reddish-gold hair. He is dressed in the tropical khakis of the Philippine command; this colonel clasps his broad leather belt in a relaxed yet powerful stance. Such portraits were a requisite part of the tour of duty of officialdom of the United States. (Lisa Guerrero Nakpil)