A very rare and important Nena Saguil painting. Hailed as one of her earliest works, the "San Agustin Church" was painted by Nena Saguil in 1945 when she resumed her art studies at the University of the Philippines after the end of World War II.
At the end of World War II, all of the buildings and structures in Intramuros were destroyed, with only the damaged San Agustin Church still standing. It was the only one among seven churches of Intramuros that survived without serious or total destruction from artillery and aerial bombardment by U.S. and Japanese forces in the Battle of Manila (1945).
Nena’s choice to paint San Agustin Church, a symbol of historical continuity and spiritual significance, might have been her way of searching for stability and solace in a period marked by upheaval and destruction.
There's a sense of quietude and desolation in the streets leading to the church, suggesting the artist's reflection on faith and spirituality in a world that was, at the time, recovering from the widespread devastation of World War II.
Amidst a dark backdrop, Nena depicts the church as exuding a spiritual aura. Nena demonstrates a play of light and shadow that breathes life into the architectural details of the church – the domes, columns, and the depth of the recesses. These elements not only showcase the church's physical characteristics but also evoke a sense of hope and resilience.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity (COA) and provenance report issued by Benjamin Saguil Jr.
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