Gabriel Custodio?
I’m hoping to get a little help on this. Maybe someone is familiar with art of the Philippines (Macky?, if you still drop by) and could verify a painting I bought while visiting my Mom in Tucson. It was her 80th birthday and I had decided to fly down for the weekend.
It’s always nice to visit mom, and to see the area where I went to high school. Like everything else, it’s changing a lot. During my visit we stopped at an estate sale in the complex around the area where she lives. These sales aren’t uncommon as she lives in a retirement area on the outskirts of Tucson.
I think it was my mom, or possibly her friend, that spotted the painting and alerted me to it. I wasn’t real impressed initially, especially since they had a price on it that didn’t appeal to me. The painting appeared to be pretty basic, not that I know anything about painting but it was definitely an original oil painting. I did like the subject matter – a farm scene in the province. I noted that it stated “Custodio’s Art Philippines -47″ on it and decided to try research it a bit. Not that I thought it was worth anything special, but I wondered if I could learn anything about it or similar paintings of the era. I mainly wanted to assure the outfit running the sale that it wasn’t worth much. Not a hidden treasure or anything like that.
Not much turned up on my Google search, but I did find a few references to a Gabriel Custodio that was born on 1912. Since I’m assuming the -47 is for 1947, I thought it was possible that he could have painted this. I could not find any examples of his work, but I did note a reference in one article to his “Philippine genre” style. Seems he also won a few awards in the early 50′s, so this would be a bit earlier.
If anyone knows anything about Gabriel Custodio, his work or this style of painting, please let me know what you can. Thanks for any help.
BTW it’s going up over the fireplace for now. A reminder of the simple life and and our retirement home land to be.
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wish i could help you randy, but i'm not much of an expert on philippine fine art. i love that period you mentioned (late 19th c. – early 20th c.) and hope to read up on it some time.
i also have a nice book on philippine artists & custodio may be in there (a gift from an filipino art collector). unfortunately, you caught me in the middle of moving to mexico & the book is in a box. i'll try to get to it when i can.
there are also a few family friends i know who collect pricey filipino artwork as investment. but (i know, bad news again), i am not aware if they do emails.
just hang on to that piece. wouldn't hurt & looks like quality. i am curious myself & if i ever get an answer, i'll definitely let you know asap.
…and yes, i still visit your site (it's bookmarked!)
Hi Macky – thanks for your response. I saw mention of a book that references him. I don’t know if it shows any of his art, “Tanaw”: Perspectives on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Painting Collection. Appears it can be ordered on line from Bangko Sentral ng Philipinas. I’ll have to check into that further.
Good luck with the move to Mexico. I hope that works out for you. It can be beautiful there and the food is great, of course.
Good evening Sir, I may have a painting of Gabriel Custodio. It was signed G. Custodio and dated 1968. There was a short greeting of “Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.” The subject is 4 men playing tennis, oil on canvass. This painting was given to me as a gift. If you want to see a picture of it, please email me at alichauco@gmail.com. And I can send you a picture…
Hi concerned citizens. I appreciate the off and have sent you an email.
Hi Randy, apparently I have been going through Gabriel Custodio in the internet and I stumbled upon a listing in ebay for a painting of his. What struck me was the description wherein Mr. Custodio was described as a student of Fernando Amorsolo, hence, the similarities in style…..will send you the picture via email of my painting…
Hi concerned citizens – thank you very much for the heads up on the eBay auction. I found the listing and am now convinced that my painting is from Gabriel. The signature matches to my eyes.
I look forward to seeing your painting. Please forward that when you have the time.
Here's the auction if anyone is interested in seeing another example of his work:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220305641729&indexURL=3#ebayphotohosting
born in tanza cavite 1912, finished fine arts at up in 1939, won the international art competetion with his piece “my fishing village” which now hangs at the UN building in new york. Custodio leads the friday group of artist. He exhibited in chicago,honolulu, australia, san francisco, etc.. Custodio also started street artist in the philippines and sold his painting in the streets after pulling out his works in a national exhibit and exhibiting the paintings across the street as rebellion to the conservative art group and their biased judgement.
usually he signs he’s name across the back of the painting for authenticity i was told by art collectors.
Hi chris – thanks for the update and information regarding Mr. Custodio. I’m not able to check the back of the painting, as it is mounted, I feel pretty confident that it is an early piece of his, but if not it still provides me with pleasure hanging over our fireplace.
Are you an artist, a collector or just interested in the history? Regardless, thanks for contributing to the knowledge of Gabriel.
Hi Randy,
I used to take lessons of “uncle” Gabriel Custodio when I was living in Manila from 1981-1984. I am married to a niece of Custodio and I am living in the Netherlands. I am a Dutch and my wife a Filipina. We are still visiting Gabriel Custodio’s wife who is still living in Sta.Mesa. I also am the proud owner of a large (2.50m x 1.50m) beautiful painting of fishing village in Cavite which he gave to us as a present when we visited him between 1985 and 1993 and the other one is a beautiful pastel of harvesting people with the Mayon volcano in the background.
Nice to come accross your article on Google.
Kind regards
Mr Willem Legerstee
Almere, the Netherlands
Hi Willem – thank you for contributing your first hand information. A relative, no less.
It would be great to see your paintings. Maybe you could send me some photos, if you’d like. It sounds like the second one you described is very similar to ours. I find that I enjoy our painting more and more as time goes on. I feel very fortunate to have found it.
Glad you found my article.
In 1966, I was in the US Navy and stationed at Sangley Point, Cavite. I was an avid tennis player, and a Philipino friend took me to the Manila Tennis Club and we played with Custodio. He asked a favor. After the tennis match, we went back to his studio. His painting were very extensive with varied subjects. I liked a particular painting of a pineapple. He told me that it was one of 10 paintings that he did for Dole Pineapple. This particular one, he decided to keep. He said to me ‘ would you like to buy it?’. Embarrassed to say no, I said absolutely! He said that I couldn’t buy it. However, he had cracked his metal racquet; however, it had a warranty. He asked if I would take it back to the US; have it fixed; and send it back to him. If I would do this he would give me the painting.
I still have the painting and love to tell that story.
Hi Bob – thanks for sharing your story. That’s a great one.
If you’d like to share a photo of your painting, let me know and I’ll get it on here somewhere.
hi,
I was wondering if you found out if this painting was painted by Gabriel Custodio.
My grandfather was also a fine artist. He has a mural in Stockton City Hall (CA). His name is Gregorio (Greg) Custodio. Please send me an email. I would like to know more about the piece. Perhaps we can help each other out. I have some connections in the Filipino art community. With each other’s help, maybe we can learn more about this piece.
While I can not say with 100% certainty that it was painted by Gabriel Custodio, it is very apparent that it was. The date, the style, the signature all verify this. Others have noted this also.
I will follow up with you in an email soon.
Do you know of a place where a collection of Custodio’s art can be viewed/appreciated/appraised? I have a painting my parents purchased while we lived in Manila – 1947 to 1955. It is a sunrise scene of fishermen pulling in their nets on a beach at low tide, a beached fishing sloop on it’s side nearby. It is signed Custodio 54′ on the front, G. Custodio in large signature on the back. Thank you.
K. Oates
I have seen only a few Custodio’s for sale. I think my two posts have the most attention given to his work.
I see more sellers than buyers at this point. There are one or two people that are looking for them really cheap, but don’t seem to follow through.
Maybe I should start a page for people to post photos of their art and act as a broker to some degree. It’s a thought.
In the early 1970′s, Gabriel Custodio was one of my ex-father-in-law’s main artists. He would travel around to sites, take pictures and paint on canvas. A lot of his paintings were displayed at Florentino’s Enterprises in Ermita, Manila. He was commissioned by Antonio Floentino to paint a portrait of the then President Ferdinand Marcos planting in the rice fields. This painting was presented to Marcos’ mother Dona Josefa Edralin at the opening of another gallery along Kamagong in Makati City. I loved his paintings and I remembered him, thus leading me to this site. He did a lot of still life, focusing on local tools used by farmers and the like. He slowly transitioned into human form and painted such wonderful scenes, once again focusing on Filipino life and farmers. If you bought one of his paintings, I assure you, that you have a gem! I have wondered who has the Marcos painting now!
Thanks for adding to the knowledge of Mr. Custodio.
The more I learn, the more proud I am to own one.