A 19th-century oil painting on canvas, titled Santisima Trinidad, attributed to Filipino painter Justiniano Asuncion, go under the hammer this Saturday, May 22, along with other religious artworks and Filipino-European objets d’art in the Segundo auction of Casa de Memoria.
The event marks the fifth-anniversary celebration of “The Casa,” billed as the “only auction house in the Philippines specializing in European antiquities, paintings and objets d’art while remaining committed to telling the story of a rich Filipino past.”
“Art defines our culture, history and heritage,” said Casa de Memoria general manager Camille Lhuiller-Albani. “As we celebrate our fifth year with the Segundo auction, Casa de Memoria proudly exhibits the works of world-class Filipino and European artists.”
The Asuncion piece depicts the Holy Trinity and serves as one of the major lots in the auction with a starting bid of P2,000,000. In the auction’s catalogue, it is said that “the rich application of gold ornaments, realistic attention to the minutest detail and the concealment of brushstrokes are characteristic of Justiniano’s style.”
Asuncion (1816-1896) was known as “Kapitan Ting,” having served as cabeza de barangay, or barangay captain, of Sta. Cruz, Manila. Most of the artist’s important paintings—including life-sized renditions of San Agustin, San Geronimo, San Antonio, and San Gregorio—were housed at the Sta. Cruz Church that was bombarded by the Japanese in 1945.
Asuncion studied at Escuela de Dibujo in 1834 and was one of six brothers who operated a studio in Sta. Cruz. In 2017, the Ayala Museum hosted an exhibition, titled Art and Family: The Asuncion Legacy, which was originally planned as a retrospective to commemorate Kapitan Ting on his bicentennial birthday. The show was expanded to include the works of Justiniano’s two other siblings, Mariano and Leoncio, and featured illustrations, medallions, paintings and sculptures by the three Asuncions.
More religious artworks figure in the Segundo auction. One is a St. Jerome oil painting from the 18th to 19th century on wood by Juan Arzeo. Another is a 19th-century oil painting on wood depicting St. Barbara by Antonio Malantic.
A triptych of reverse glass paintings depicting Quotidian scenes from the 18th century, as well as a pair of watercolor paintings of the picturesque Cagayan River and Jolo watercolor by Capt. Eduardo Moreno Esteller, a Spanish soldier stationed in the Philippines, are also part of the auction.
Segundo showcases interesting artifacts as well. There is a historic Philippine Map from the 18th century, portraits sketched by Filipino artist Romeo Tabuena (1921-2015), and Manuel Montoya’s depiction of a courtyard scene in the 19th century. Also up for bidding are sophisticated ivory boxes from the 19th century and the Anglo-Indian Sadeli box, which has minute parquetry out of dyed horns, bones, pewter, and mother of pearl with a wooden interior.
Part of the Segundo auction proceeds will be donated by Case de Memoria to a local charitable institution to help those badly affected by the pandemic.
The Segundo auction preview runs until May 21, a day before the event starts at 2 pm. To view the items in person, appointments can be set through hello@casadememoria.com. To explore the auction pieces online, visit bit.ly/CasaDeMemoriaOnline.
More information is available at www.casadememoria.com and through 8253-3994.