MANTLE selects their favorite works of art from León Gallery’s assortment of kingly treasures.
December ushers in Leon Gallery’s annual tradition: The Kingly Treasures Auction. As with every year, the gallery showcases a trove of masterful works and exciting contemporary pieces.
Mauro Malang’s Carroza graces the cover of this year’s catalog, It is one of the many works in the collection that depict the Madonna, the Blessed Virgin Mary—or as León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon puts it, the “Queen of all our hearts.”
Here are the kingly treasures that have taken our hearts at MANTLE:
Fernando Zobel
signed (lower right);
inscribed and dated ‘Manila 1968’ (verso)
oil on canvas
38” x 38” (97 cm x 97 cm)
“Lumina II” hails from a time wherein Zobel’s works became more geometric and hard-edged, reminiscent of the aesthetic trends of the late 1960s.
Bernardo Pacquing
ca. 1997
oil on wood
48″ x 48″ (122 cm x 122 cm)
Pacquing’s use of the color gray in this piece lends itself to a certain three-dimensionality—a sculpture-like effect that gives the work more depth and structure.
Augusto Albor
signed and dated 2016 (lower left and verso)
acrylic on canvas
60″ x 60″ (152 cm x 152 cm)
This minimalist work invites viewers to meditate on its use of black, grey, white, and rust colors to evoke a simple yet striking mood.
Placid Dusk
signed (lower right)
ca. 1970s
acrylic on canvas
24″ x 40″ (61 cm x 102 cm)
There is both a sense of serenity and poignancy in Sansó’s surreal landscapes and seascapes, and this work is no exception. It is part of that departure from the maestro’s more vibrant and jubilant pieces, but an integral part of his oeuvre nonetheless.
Window
signed and dated 1979 (lower right)
oil on canvas
24″ x 24″ (61 cm x 61 cm)
Striking colors combined with a rigid cubist aesthetic make this Kiukok piece a standout work, inviting you to ruminate and imagine the views beyond this (painted) window.
A Tree
signed and dated 18.IX.77 (lower right)
watercolor on paper
22″ x 29 1/2″ (56 cm x 75 cm)
Bold and vibrant colors lend themselves well to Malang’s interpretation of a tree within a cityscape. The composition also showcases touches of Manansala’s influence.
The Kingly Treasures Auction 2022 will take place at 2:00PM, December 3, 2022, at the León Gallery, located at G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City. For more information, visit León Gallery’s official website or check out their official Facebook and Instagram pages.
