Women’s Month: Rare Anita Magsaysay-Ho auctioned for benefit of Asian Cultural Council scholars

MANILA, Philippines — In time for International Women’s Month, a rare painting by Anita Magsaysay-Ho was auctioned off last weekend by auction house Leon Gallery for the benefit of the artist scholars of Asian Cultural Council (ACC), formerly the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Foundation.

Leon Gallery Director Jaime Ponce de Leon said at the auction’s recent press launch that their gallery’s first major auction for the year marks the 9th year of their partnership with ACC in providing opportunities for international cultural exchange to artists, scholars, and arts professionals between Asia and the United States. 

The ACC-Leon Gallery partnership celebrated the birth anniversaries of three of the country's modernist stalwarts: Fernando Zóbel's 100th and the 110th of two of his closest friends, Magsaysay-Ho and Nena Saguil. 

Among the auction’s highlights were Magsaysay-Ho's rare portrayal of an iconic scene with "Planting Rice,” and Saguil’s pieces that encompass her days from the Philippine Art Gallery to the Ecole de Paris. 

The “Planting Rice” painting, said de Leon, was previously owned by Magsaysay-Ho’s personal doctor.

“It’s a very good Anita from the ‘Green’ period. And of course, it’s very hard to find an Anita now. This is a great opportunity to get one, to have one,” de Leon affirmed.

Filipino art luminaries Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, known as the "sun and moon" of Filipino art, also graced the auction floor. Luna’s "Ecce Homo" reflects a tumultuous period, showcasing Luna's earnest efforts to control his emotions, while "Landscape in Bilbao" captures a serene phase in his life. Additionally, a masterpiece from his award-winning Roman period titled "Idilio" was also a highlight. Hidalgo’s “Barcos de la Vela (Sailboats)” hailed from the collection of the railway tycoon William Sproule.

Works of two former ACC grantees, Jose Joya and Roberto Chabet, also went under the hammer. They share the distinction of being the first Filipino ACC recipients in their respective fields (Joya for the Visual Arts and Chabet for Museology, both in 1967).

“The 1960s were among the best output of Joya, the best pieces that could ever be found. Collectors prize this