Félix Resurrección Hidalgo (Manila, The Philippines, 1855 - Barcelona, 1913)

Félix Resurrección Hidalgo (Manila, The Philippines, 1855 - Barcelona, 1913) "Jolo Island" Pencil and chalk drawing on paper. Signed in pencil and dated 1878. 21,5 x 28,5 cm. There is a small tear in the lower margin. Félix Resurrección Hidalgo was a prominent Spanish-Filipino painter of the 19th century. Born in Manila into a wealthy family, he trained at the University of Santo Tomás and the Academy of Drawing and Painting in Manila. Initially he painted landscapes and genre scenes. In 1880, he received a scholarship to study in Madrid, where he presented his most important artwork, ‘’Young Christian Women Exposed to the Populace‘’, which received a Medal for Second place at the National Exhibition in Madrid in 1884. He then settled in Paris, where he created his most famous painting, ‘The Boat of Acheron’, inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy. This work won him a Gold Medal at the General Exhibition of the Philippines in 1887. Hidalgo was also successful in other international exhibitions. As market opportunities grew, his style shifted towards decorative symbolist landscapes, although he continued to produce allegorical-political compositions with an emphasis on the historical identity of the Philippines. His artistic legacy helped to reinforce the cultural identity of the Philippines prior to its independence. In conclusion, Felix Hidalgo was one of the great masters of Philippine painting and left an important legacy in the history of Philippine art.