This is quite a historic piece because it is known that the Germinal Company was a patron of the artist around that time. This connection is mentioned in Manuel Duldulao’s book: “A century of Realism in Philippine Art” . See chapter on Fabien de la Rosa, page 35, where the author comments: “Impressed by his work, the Germinal Tobacco Company, a cigar and cigarette manufacturing firm, sent Don Fabian to Europe as a pensionado, to study at the Académie Julian in Paris. The year was 1908.” The Academie Julian remains one of the most prestigious art schools in France today.