CESAR LEGASPI

(Biography & Artworks)

 Personal Background

Cesar Torrente Legaspi was born

April 2, 1917 to Manuel
Legaspi and Rosario Torrente in
Tondo, Manila.
 Educational Background

He took up Painting for one term at

the University of the Philippines
School of Fine Arts . There he received
medals for perspective and illustration
projects in which he earned his
Certificate of Proficiency in 1936.
 After which he continued his education
in art under Pablo Amorsolo. He then
pursued art studies abroad as a scholar
at the Cultura Hispanic, in Madrid,
1953-1954. He also went to Paris to
study at the Academie Ranson for one
month under Henri Goetz.
 Early Paintings
His early paintings, reflect his
personal reaction to the national
issues. "Man and Woman" (also
entitled Beggars), 1945. The painting
shows the sufferings of urban
beggars as what a couple in rags
shows.
Man And Woman
 Another important work, "Gadgets" 1947,
done in two versions, reflects the human
beings look more like gadgets than people.
The life of the deprived factory worker or
laborer who deserves proper compensation
and treatment for the producing country's
wealth can also be viewed here.
Gadgets 1 Gadgets II
 Back in the Philippines, he had his
first one-man show at the Luz Gallery
in 1963. He also worked as a
magazine illustrator and artistic
director at an advertising agency. He
finally left the agency in 1968 to
focus on his painting career.
 Career Life
During his career as an artist, he had the
opportunity to be part of several exhibits
abroad, including the First Plastic Arts
Conference in Rome in 1953, the So
Paulo Biennial in Graphic Arts in 1967 and
1969, and the Wraxall Gallery in London
with Filipino artists Mauro Malang Santos
and Benedicto Cabrera in 1982.
 Furthermore, he holds the record of five
retrospective exhibitions at different
venues: the Museum of Philippine Art
in 1978, the National Museum and the
Metropolitan Museum in 1988, and the
Luz Gallery and the Cultural Center of
the Philippines in 1990.
 Art Style
Neo Realism (also called New Realism)
is a movement in art, where the
depiction of the social conditions is the
artists focus, but done in styles
associated with modern artists.
 Cubism
The first abstract style of modern
art. The Cubist style emphasized the flat,
two-dimensional surface of the picture
plane. Typical cubist paintings frequently
show letters, musical instruments, bottles,
pitchers, glasses, newspapers, human faces
and figures.
 13 Moderns
Victorio Edades, was the leader of the
revolutionary Thirteen Moderns, a group
having members such as Carlos Francisco,
Galo Ocampo, Diosdado Lorenzo, Vicente
Manansala, HR Ocampo, Anita Magsaysay,
Demetrio Diego, Ricarte Purugganan, Jos
Pardo, Bonifacio Cristobal, Arsenio Capil
and Cesar Legaspi.
 Groups vision is to promote the
vision of Modern Art in the
country and to bring Philippine
art up to date with the rest of the
art world.
Other Artworks
Ginintuang Mayo
The Ritual
Superstition
Tree Planting
Workers
 Awards and Recognition
1944 ikaapat na gantimpala, Art Association of the
Philippines, Gadgets
1948 unang gantimapala, Art Association of the
Philippines, Sick Child
1949 ikaapat na gantimpala, Art Association of the
Philippines, Planters
1949 unang gantimpala, Manila Club Art
Exhibition, Stairway to Heaven
1950 Honorable Mention in the Manila Grand
Opera House Exhibition, Symphony
 1951 ikatlong gantimpala, Art
Association of the Philippines, Ritual
1972 Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan
Award, mula sa Lungsod ng Maynila
1981 Critics Choice Award for Five
Outstanding Living Artists
1990 Gawad CCP para sa Sining Award,
mula sa Cultural Center of the Philippines
 Married Life
He was married to Vitaliana
Kaligdan with whom he had five
children. His daughter, Celeste, is one
of the most gifted proponents of
Filipino popular music.
 Death
. Hewas an active member of the Art
Association of the Philippines and
was part of the Neo-Realists. He was
also the head of the Saturday Group
artists from 1978 until his death on
April 7, 1994 at the aged of 77.