Seascape
signed, dated 1909 and inscribed "A mi amigo, R. Ramirez" (lower left)
oil on canvas
11 3/4" x 18 3/4" (30 cm x 48 cm)


PROVENANCEA gift from the artist to Ramon Ramirez
Private collection, Manila

LITERATURELaya, Jaime C., ed. Consuming Passions: Philippine Collectibles. Pasig City: Anvil Publishing, Inc, 2003.Full-color photograph and catalogued in the caption on page 332.

The seemingly unfathomable waters and its rugged vessels feature prominently in Hidalgo’s oeuvre, consummately exemplified by one of his most iconic works, La Barca de Aqueronte, which depicts Charon, the ferryman of the Greek underworld, transporting souls over the River Styx to the realm of the god Hades. There are also his quaint river scenes of Manila and its environs that form part of his early artistic period, his Philippine Period.But perhaps nothing is more enchanting and endearing than a gift to a fellow ilustrado and comrade in the name of patriotism. Seascape, a companion piece to the preceding lot above, was painted four short years before Hidalgo’s untimely death due to failing health conditions. The work at hand is a valuable memento from Hidalgo’s final years of the early 1900s, highlighted in his career as the decade when he won the coveted Gold Medal at the 1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri for his work El Violinista. The said masterpiece would be reproduced in the exposition’s catalog, where it was lauded as a “strong, colorful, direct piece of painting.”While La Barca de Aqueronte shows a relatively aggressive character to Hidalgo, the artist’s myriad seascapes, particularly the work at hand, show his true disposition: gentle and mild-mannered.The sun is vaguely outlined in the background using delicate impastos, giving the composition an overall enigmatic quality. The hazy outline of sailboats, coupled with the serene waters and dream-like clouds that blanket the skies, show Hidalgo at his rawest: pure in form and intention, exuding beauty in vulnerability.Perhaps Hidalgo had foreseen his demise, and caressed by something spiritual, he was urged to paint a tranquil scenery as a farewell gift to a beloved friend. It is a reminder of the benevolent Hidalgo who always pleasantly visited his dear amigo in his Parisian home, the Hidalgo who always shared laughs, booze, stories, and even the profound sentiments of nationalism.In the ethereal peace and quiet of the painting’s atmosphere, Hidalgo’s spirit and true character are enshrined and immortalized. (Adrian Maranan)