Don Antonio Blanco (1911 - 1999) was born in Manila to Spanish parents. Blanco pursued art studies at the National Academy of Arts in New York under Sidney Dickinson. During those early formative years, Blanco concentrated on the human form, fascinated by the female body more than any other subject matter. To further his studies and ignite his travelling spirit, he travelled extensively before he finally settled in Bali in 1952. The King of Ubud gifted land to Blanco for him to set up his home and studio in Campuan, Ubud, at the confluence of two sacred rivers. Blanco and his Balinese wife, the celebrated dancer Ni Ronji, lived in their mountain retreat, barely leaving it for the world outside. Following a brief trip to the United States, where Blanco acquired many new collectors, the couple never left their fantasy home again.
Blanco lived and worked in his magical hilltop home until his death in 1999, feverishly creating his fantasy portraits of beautiful women. Surrounded by lush gardens, rice fields and with a Banyan tree standing over his family's temple, Antonio Blanco proceeded to create a new reality for himself.
His paintings are much sought after by art collectors. He has been recognized both in Indonesia and abroad and received numerous awards. He gained eminence as a prominent Indo-European artist.
"Portrait" of a man is a rare painting as Blanco often painted women. "Portrait" reflects Blanco's mastery of colour, form and in encapsulating the essence of his striking subject. This painting has a Certificate of Authenticity from the Blanco Renaissance Museum in Campuhan Ubud, Bali and the frame was specially created by the Museum to complement the "Portrait".
Sotheby's Singapore, 9 October 2005