The National Museum of the Philippines has recently confirmed the identity of the woman in National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s unfinished painting—and it is the late mother of dermatologist and TV personality Vicki Belo.
For about five decades, historians and art curators alike have tried to identify who the mystery woman in Amorsolo’s unfinished painting is. (See picture below for the photo)
“We recently confirmed the identity of the National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s previously unknown sitter for his last portrait painting commission,” said the National Museum of the Philippines through a Facebook post.
“Passing away in April 24, 1972, the 79-year old Amorsolo was not able to complete it. Her name is Florencia Singson Gonzalez-Belo, the late mother of the famous dermatologist Dr. Vicki Belo,” it further said.
In March 2016, Judy Araneta Roxas pointed out that the last and unfinished portrait of the National Artist was “Nena” Belo. And based on research through archival data and interviews, the National Museum was able to verify that it was indeed the mother of Vicki Belo, Florencia “Nena” Singson Gonzalez-Belo.
The celebrity go-to dermatologist, together with her family, visited National Museum to see for themselves the unfinished painting of her late mother.
On Instagram, Vicki said “Today is my Mommy Nena ‘s birthday and we went to the National Museum to see her long lost Amorsolo painting.
She always wondered what happened to her painting because all her sisters have one–and now, we finally got to see it.”
Note: Photos from the National Museum of the Philippines’ Facebook page
