Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo facts for kids

Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo Torrontegui (born August 27, 1924 – died June 2, 1984) was a famous Spanish Filipino painter. He was also a successful businessman, a collector of art, and he even started museums. People often called him Fernando M. Zóbel.

Early Life and Learning

Fernando Zóbel was born in Ermita, Manila, in the Philippines. He came from the well-known Zóbel de Ayala family. His father, Enrique Zóbel de Ayala, was a big supporter of art. A famous Filipino painter named Fernando Amorsolo taught young Fernando how to draw and paint. This was a special gift from Amorsolo to his father.

In 1942, Fernando became very sick and had to stay in bed. To pass the time, he started sketching. This was the beginning of his journey into art. He first studied at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Later, in 1946, he went to Harvard University in the United States. There, he studied history and literature. He finished his degree in just three years.

Starting His Art Journey

Fernando Zóbel began painting while he was at Harvard, even though he didn't have formal art lessons. In 1946, he met a painter named Reed Champion Pfeufer. She became a guide for him as he learned to paint. Fernando graduated from Harvard with high honors in 1949. After college, he worked as a curator at the Houghton Library. His early paintings often showed real-life things and sometimes had a funny, cartoon-like style.

Finding His Style: Abstract Art

Fernando returned to the Philippines and became friends with other modern Filipino artists. He started collecting their art and helped them show their work. His first solo art show was in 1953.

In 1954, he visited the Rhode Island School of Design and saw an exhibition by Mark Rothko. Rothko's abstract paintings really inspired Fernando. This made him want to paint in an abstract way, using shapes and colors instead of real objects. When he came back to Manila, he also became very interested in Chinese and Japanese art. He took calligraphy classes, which is the art of beautiful writing.

Fernando also taught at the Ateneo de Manila University. He later received an honorary degree and was made an honorary director of the Ateneo Art Gallery. This was because he helped with education and supported the arts. To focus on being a full-time painter, he later left his job at the Ayala Corporation and moved to Spain.

Famous Art Series: Saetas and Serie Negra

Fernando Zóbel is well-known for his first art series called the Saetas. The name comes from a special religious song sung in Spain. He created most of these paintings in the Philippines. Fernando wanted to make very long, thin, and controlled lines in his art. To do this, he used a surgical syringe to put fine lines of paint onto the canvas! This was a unique way of painting.

After the Saetas, he started another series called Serie Negra, which means "Black Series." These paintings were inspired by Chinese Calligraphy, using bold black lines. He began this series in 1959 in Madrid, Spain, and continued it for four years.

Later Life and Important Contributions

In 1963, Fernando Zóbel started the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español (Museum of Spanish Abstract Art) in Cuenca, Spain. This museum became a very important place for abstract art. He helped many Spanish modern painters, like Antoni Tàpies and Antonio Saura, by collecting their work and guiding them.

In his later years, Fernando created paintings called Dialogos (Dialogues). These were his abstract versions of famous paintings he admired in museums. He also made a series called Las Orillas (The Banks), which were inspired by rivers.

In 1983, the King of Spain gave Fernando Zóbel the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts. This is a very important award for people who help promote Spanish art and culture. Fernando Zóbel passed away from a heart attack in Rome, Italy, on June 2, 1984, when he was 59 years old.

His Lasting Legacy

Fernando Zóbel left a big impact on the art world. The Ateneo Art Gallery in the Philippines and the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español in Spain are now key places for modern art.

In 1967, the Ayala Museum was created. Fernando Zóbel had first imagined it as a museum for Philippine history.

In 2006, the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo gave Fernando Zóbel the Presidential Medal of Merit. This award recognized his important contributions to the arts in the Philippines.

His artworks have become very valuable over time. In recent years, some of his paintings have sold for record-breaking prices at auctions, showing how much his art is appreciated around the world.