Banks of the Pasig river, Manila

Born in Binondo, Manila, Félix Hidalgo studied law but was enrolled simultaneously at the Escuela de Dibujo y Pintura in Manila. A pupil of the Spanish expatriate Agustín Saéz, his early works include landscapes around Manila, such as the present two rare works. For similar views painted in 1875 and 1876, see his Estudio del natural (1875) in the Prado, Madrid (P04392), the same size (34 x 54cm.) as these two works, and similarly signed, inscribed and dated in red paint, and see the two Manila landscapes, dated 19 February 1876, of similar size, sold Sotheby's Singapore, 10 April, 2005, lot 79, ($163,512).