Master of Genre: Fabian Cueto de La Rosa (1869-1937)

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Fabian de la Rosa (May 5, 1869- December 14, 1937) was the brightest name in Philippine painting after Luna and certainly the leading master of genre in the first quarter of the century. Particularly noted for being an outstanding painter of women’s portraits, alongside Juan Luna and his nephews, Pablo and Fernando Amorsolo. Fabian Cueto de la Rosa was born on May 5, 1869 in Paco, Manila, the second child of Marcos de la Rosa and Gregoria Cueto. He had apprenticed with his aunt, Mariana de la Rosa, and later with Simon Flores for his first art lessons at age 10. Prior to receiving any formal academic training in the arts, he painted La Perla de Lucban, his first known masterpiece and oldest existing work, at the age of twenty-two. He was married, on January 13th 1900, to Gorgonia Tolentino. The couple never bore children, but their orphaned nephews Pablo and Amorsolo were very close to them, and stayed with them in 1903. De la Rosa introduced and taught decorative painting. Teaching and portrait painting became his means of livelihood. His skill and reputation in portraiture have rarely been equaled except perhaps by Fernando Amorsolo. Fabian De La Rosa is reputed to have produced about 1,000 works in his lifetime. Aurelio S. Alvero divides his works into three periods. In the first period, the emphasis is academic, detailing figures but forgetting atmosphere; the second period shows a transition of focus on academic figures to atmosphere; in his third period, emphasis is on play of colors in favor of massing and spacing, blurring figures almost into abstractions. Awards Gold medal for Planting Rice in the International Exposition of St Louis, Missouri, in 1904 Bronze medal for The Death of General Lawton in the International Exposition of St Louis, Missouri Received the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan award from the City of Manila in 1968

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