Lot 51: Antonio Maria Blanco (Filipino, 1927-1999) The Portrait of my Balinese Father-in-Law

Antonio Maria Blanco
(Filipino, 1927-1999)
The Portrait of my Balinese Father-in-Law signed 'Blanco' (lower right), inscribed 'Bali' (lower left)oil on canvas33 x 23cm (13 x 9 1/16in).

Provenance: Anon. sale, Bonhams, London, 22 March 2000, lot 74.A label bearing Blanco's studio stamp on the reverse of the painting includes comments from the artist about this work:'Painted in the year 1962, this sketch in oil colors is of my best male model in Bali: namely I Kebbak (my Balinese wife's father). His intense expression required something delicate which I think I accomplished by painting a little gold earing called in Balinese: "Bungkung Kuping". Men in the real-Bali-of-old wore such little earings. I hope that it will find harmony in the home of Commander John Patrick David & his wife in its hand carved frame whose incised designs were taken from Temple decorations in Bali.'The painting is still housed in the same frame referenced in this text.