Showing posts with label National Art Gallery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Art Gallery. Show all posts

05 August 2014

Portrait of A Lady by Juan Luna (Oil on wood)

       We continue our tour of the National Art Gallery. The succeeding artworks showcase variety of images and are eloquent enough to convey different messages to the viewers in order to evoke emotions that lay dormant in our hearts.

Gallery III (Philippine Art of the Academic and Romantic Period)

       Gallery III is primarily devoted to the works of the prolific master Juan Luna. Among the more than 50 paintings, one of the more notable pieces is Luna’s Una Bulaqueña.


Bust and self-portrait of Juan Luna y Novicio

Luling Cogiendo Bombones by Juan Luna (Oil on panel)

Study of Cervantes by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas)

Rice Harvesting by Juan Luna (Oil on wood)

Una Bulaqueña by Juan Luna

A Mi Madre by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas)

Portal de un Jardín by Félix Resurrección-Hidalgo (Oil on hardboard)


Some of the paintings exhibited on Gallery III

Dead Child by Simon Flores (Oil on canvas)

Feeding the Chickens by Simon Flores (Oil on canvas)

Diploma conferring a gold medal on Isabelo Tampinco for his participation in the Exposición Regional de Filipinas in 1895

Andalucian Girl by Rafael Enriquez (Oil on canvas)

Vendedor de Periodicos by Telesforo Sucgang (Oil on wood)

Governor Blanco and his Troops by Felix Martinez (Oil on canvas)


Gallery IV (Fundación Santiago Hall)


       This gallery continues the 19th century theme of Gallery III, but it features sculptures by Isabelo L. Tampinco.

Apotheosis of Francisco Balagtas by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Concrete)

Lady with Cherubs by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Lady with Cornucopia (1) and (2) by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Plaster cast)

Grecian Beauty by Vidal Tampinco (Plaster cast)

La Mujer en Reposo by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Bonded marble cast from original)

Niño Gritando by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome wood)

Solitude by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Mujer al lado del Batis by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Other sculptures in Gallery IV

Gallery XXIV (Queen Sofia Hall)

       Gallery XXIV has an exhibit of the work of Escuela Taller Intramuros when we visit. The exhibit is not astonishing, but the ceiling and the intricate design of the hall are quite interesting.


Gallery XXIV contains photos of Spanish-era houses and their detail


What the former politicians saw when they looked up after a day of debate and lawmaking.

PhilAm Life Exhibit

       This hall is full of Vicente S. Manansala’s huge paintings.

A photo of Vicente S. Manansala

Harana by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

Pagkain and Isda by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

Manok by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

GSIS Collection

       The GSIS Collection is featured in two halls. The first one contains works by Benedicto Cabrera or more popularly known as Bencab, Vicente S. Manansala and Carlos V. Francisco, among others. The second hall has Fernando Amorsolo paintings and Parisian Life by Juan Luna.

Sabel by Benedicto Cabrera (Oil on canvas)

Nipa Hut by Vicente S. Manansala (watercolor on paper)

(from left to right): Works by Vicente S. Manansala-Maria Clara (Ink on paper), Blumentritt (Ink on Canson paper) and Celia (Inkwash, pen and ink on Canson paper)

Station of the Cross #3 and Station of the Cross #5 by Carlos Francisco (Oil on canvas)

Oración by Fernando Amorsolo

Under the Mango Tree (Mango Picking) by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Tindahan by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Las Lavanderas by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Parisian Life by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas). The woman is said to be a prostitute while the three men in the background are Juan Luna, José Rizal and Ariston Lin. According to Jed, the woman also represents the Philippines because the form of the woman looks like the map of the country.

Gallery of Personalities


       This hall has four walls covered with paintings of different personalities each one represents a sector in the society.


A portion of the many personalities in the Philippines by Federico Alcuaz (Oil on canvas)

       After three hours of looking at paintings and sculptures, we leave the museum to have lunch at President Grand Palace Restaurant in Binondo. We return after one hour to visit the Museum of the Filipino People.

       The National Art Gallery is along P. Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Regular admission price for adult is P150 (US $3.46), senior citizen with ID, P120 (US $2.77), student with ID, P50 (US $1.15) and children below four years old get in for free. Entrance is free to all visitors on Sundays. Gallery tours are available, just contact Museum Education at (02) 527-0278 or at (02) 527-1215.

For more information, please visit www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph

01 August 2014


“El objeto del arte es quitar el polvo a la vida diaria de nuestras almas.” -Pablo Picasso

       The façade and galleries on the third floor are under renovation, and Gallery I is not open to the public when Virg, Jed and I visit The National Art Gallery one rainy Sunday morning. This fact does not dampen our spirits as we register with the help of the friendly receptionists. I will post the photos of the artworks as I see them in the course of our tour, not according to the gallery number.

Lobby of The National Art Gallery

Legazpi and the Founding of Manila by Napoleon Abueva

The Hall of the Masters

       The old House of Representatives Session Hall was converted into The Hall of the Masters, a space duly reserved only for Juan Luna’s and Félix Resurrección-Hidalgo’s masterpieces. Upon entering the hall, visitors are greeted by Guillermo Tolentino’s Diwata.

Spoliarium by Juan Luna y Novicio(Oil on canvas)


A closer look at the Spoliarium

How expansive is the Spoliarium? It measures 422 cm by 767.5 cm.

El Asesinato del Gobernador Bustamante by Félix Resurrección-Hidalgo

Diwata by Guillermo Tolentino (Reinforced concrete)

Guillermo Tolentino Hall


The artistic genius Guillermo E. Tolentino

Bust of Lapu-Lapu, the first Filipino hero

Bust of José Rizal, the renaissance Filipino

Busts of former Philippine presidents Elpidio Quirino, Ramon Magsaysay and Ferdinand Marcos


Manuel Quezón, president of the Commonwealth of the Philippines

       The room next to the sculptures made by Guillermo Tolentino contains works made by various artists.

Carabaos in Pink by Romeo Tabuena (Oil on plywood)

Nipa Hut – Madonna and Child by Romeo Tabuena (Oil on plywood) and Man with a Hoe by Juvenal Sanso (Oil on lawanit board)

Portrait of Ching Ben Lee and Madame So Boan Ty by Federico Alcuaz (Oil on canvas)

Sculpture of a goddess



Gallery IX (The Great Modernists of Philippine Art)


Towards the Graveyard by Ang Kiukok (Oil on canvas)

Triptych and Hills of Nikko by Jose Joya (Oil on canvas)

Naiad by Jose Joya (Oil on wood)

Hernando R. Ocampo’s Ang Pulubi (Oil on canvas) and Homage to Tandang Sora (Acrylic on canvas)

Self (Acrylic on canvas) and Imaginary Portrait of Isabel (Oil on canvas) by Benedicto Cabrera

First Mass at Limasawa by Carlos V. Francisco (Oil on canvas)

Introduction of the First Christian Image by Carlos V. Francisco (Oil on wood)

Planting of the First Cross by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas)

Patuloyang Buhay and Burial by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas)

Old Woman with Mortar by Diosdado Lorenzo (Oil on wood)

Modern Maria Clara by Victorio Edades (Oil on canvas)

Gallery for Japanese War Art Pieces


Rape and Massacre in Ermita by Diosdado Lorenzo (Oil on canvas)

The Leyte Landing by Romeo Tabuena (Oil on board) and Landing of the Liberation Forces at Lingayen by Eduardo Perrenoud (Oil on board)

Death March by Dominador Castañeda (Oil on canvas)

Graveyard Scene by Carlos Valino (Oil on canvas)

Bataan Death Marcher by Gene Cabrera (Metal and wood)

Gallery X(Museum Foundation of the Philippines Hall)


       This gallery is devoted to the series of paintings made by Carlos V. Francisco for the Philippine General Hospital. The huge paintings show the history and development of medicine in the Philippines.


The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines by Carlos V. Francisco

The first of the eight-series work by Francisco

Gallery II (FCCP Hall)


       Gallery II houses the Basi Revolt series done by Esteban Villanueva.

Four of the many paintings done by Esteban Villanueva (Oil on canvas)

       Visiting the museum is an educational experience I thoroughly enjoy. Philippine history is played right before my eyes, with the help of vivid visuals lovingly made by the skillful hands of the Filipino masters.


       The National Art Gallery is along P. Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Regular admission price for adult is P150 (US $3.46), senior citizen with ID, P120 (US $2.77), student with ID, P50 (US $1.15) and children below four years old get in for free. Entrance is free to all visitors on Sundays. Gallery tours are available, just contact Museum Education at (02) 527-0278 or at (02) 527-1215.

For more information, please visit www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph.