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

 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, 19531954. He also went to Paris
to study at the Academie

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

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

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

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

 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, twodimensional 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

 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
The Ritual
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,

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
He was 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.