Leon Gallery celebrating 15 years of auctions.

The Burning of Manila is “one of the largest Amorsolo pieces to enter the market.”Fernando Amorsolo's legacy continues to live on as Leon Gallery records its highest sale for a “wartime piece” by the renowned painter. At the “Spectacular Mid-Year Auction” of Leon Gallery held on Saturday, June 7, Fernando Amorsolo's "The Burning of Manila" from the Enrique Zóbel collection was sold for P36,048,000-- a new record for a “wartime piece” by Amorsolo. According to Leon Gallery, it was acquired by Don Jacobo Zóbel de Ayala y Roxas from Amorsolo during the Japanese occupation. Then, in 1971, Don Jacob bequeathed the painting to his son, Don Enrique.“Don Jacobo had been one of those sentenced to endure the infamous Bataan Death March and become a prisoner-of-war,” Leon Gallery wrote online. “As a serviceman, the painting may have reminded him of the unwavering heroism of the Filipinos during that darkest period in our history.”