Private Collection, USA

The work is in good condition overall. There is light wear and handling around the edges of the painting, along with three minute paint losses located near the lower right corner. However this is only visible upon close inspection and does not detract from the quality of the painting. Under ultraviolet light examination shows no sign of restoration. Framed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"The years 1920 to 1945 stand out as Amorsolo's Golden Period. After Amorsolo, genre was never the same again. One critic cited Amorsolo's use of colour, triumphant over realism, as undoing of Philippines genre. But Amorsolo's influence on art and the public perception of art cannot be underestimated. He invested rural people with dignity and country life with a feeling of contentment. His works captured the optimistic spirit and grace of peacetime Philippines, before the Pacific War of 1941 - a time of innocence for Philippines."³

Highly regarded as the Grand Master of Filipino genre painter, Fernando Amorsolo’s idyllic renditions of the common people has firmly celebrated the spirit and soul of his country. A connoisseur for light and human form, Amorsolo has e🌸mphasized on the finer qualities of the attempt to portray the natural grace and pride found in the daily lives of the Filipino people.  

The artist paid particular attention to the Dalagang Filipina also known as the Filipina beauty and favored painting the activities of the common people. From his eminent academic background, the artist honed the meticulous studies of his subjects, “[his keen] interest and delight in working on these paintings are readily seen by the great care and effort he would take to complete this type of painting. He would do extensive reading research…He would make color studies. Such paintings much larger than his genre works would be finalized only after thorough preliminary studies.” ¹

Executed in 1939, Under the Mango Tree celebrates the innocence and idealism of the artist’s early genre paintings. Depicting the emotion and simplicity of the village scene, he has captured the mood and elegant surroundings sophisticatedly. According to Amorsolo when painting outdoors, “You have to work fast…Light changes very rapidly and you have to be fast in order to catch the mood…” ² While he observes the villagers as they rest underneath the mango tree, Amorsolo studies the body language of the figures carefully. Radiating the surface with tropical colors and light gracefully, his composition displays the beauty and nostalgia of how the Philippines was and secretly dream of how it should always be.

¹ Alfredo R. Roces, Amorsolo, Filipinas Foundation Inc., 1975, Philippines and Hong Kong, p. 142

² Refer to p. 134

³ Refer to p. 384