About this work:
An extraordinary example of pyro-engraving by Félix Pardo de Tavera, one of the most accomplished Filipino sculptors of the nineteenth century, this work combines the artist’s remarkable technical ingenuity with classical European Belle Époque elegance. Born in Manila in 1859, Pardo de Tavera achieved international fame at a time when few Filipino artists enjoyed comparable success abroad. His distinguished career brought him medals at major international exhibitions including Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, and eventually St. Louis, where he received a gold medal at the 1904 World's Fair. Although primarily working in bronze, Pardo de Tavera also experimented with unconventional materials, such as this richly textured wood panel with pyro-engraved details. Depicting a young Roman woman in profile, her flowing robes accented with vivid red and delicate botanical ornament, the composition reflects the late 19th century fascination with antiquity.
Pardo de Tavera belonged to one of the Philippines' most prominent intellectual families and was a remarkable figure in the country's artistic and cultural history. After studying at Manila's Academia de Dibujo y Pintura, he moved to Paris, where he earned a medical degree in 1882 while pursuing his passion for sculpture. His artistic education brought him into contact with leading European masters, including Mariano Benlliure and, according to biographical accounts, Auguste Rodin. He was the younger brother of the influential scholar and statesman Trinidad Pardo de Tavera, a friend of the Filipino national hero José Rizal, and the brother-in-law of the celebrated painter Juan Luna...
Category
1890s Art Nouveau Figurative Paintings
