PHILIPPINE ART HISTORY

18th Century

Earliest among the collection are religious in

themes and composed of 18th century icons
and images created by local artisans under the
tutelage of the friars. The devotional pieces of
the collection are of outstanding significance.

 Coronation of the Virgin

 Retalbo

During the late Spanish colonial period, the

school of Academism or “salon” painting
emerged and produced the likes of Juan N.
Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, who are
now considered as 19th century masters.
 Spolarium
 Mother’s Revenge
 Governor Dasmarinas
1900s
In the succeeding American period, Fernando
C. Amorsolo, who was later declared as the
First National Artist, rose into fame and
established his own style or “school” which was
largely characterized by countryside scenery
with golden sunlight. 

 La Descencion de Jesus
 Association of the Philippines (AAP) was
1920s established in 1948.

The period is represented by the proliferation  Burning of Sto. Domingo

of genre themes, landscapes and still lifes as
well as the emergence of pre-modernism.

 Bust. of Mons. G. Aglipay

1950s

The Philippine Art Gallery (PAG) was founded

1930s: Pre-modernism
Artists represented in the collection: Victorio
Edades, Diosdado Lorenzo, Galo Ocampo,
Carlos Francisco, Gabriel Custodio, Vicente
Manansala, Ricarte Purruganan, Romeo
Tabuena, and others.
with young modernists as the leading figures.
Emergence of different schools of thought (e.g.
school of Botong Francisco, school of
Manansala, emergence of the “Mabini” art
group.
 Christmas Card Series
 Harana in Manila

1942-1945

A suspension on artistic activity was prevalent

during the Japanese occupation. However,
some visual artists still managed to produce
artworks based on the atrocities brought by the
war.
 
 Artists represented in the collection:
Dominador Castañeda, Demetrio Diego,
Diosdado Lorenzo, Romeo Tabuena, Gene
Cabrera and others

1946-1949

After the Japanese occupation, the art

community sprang back to life. Various themes
and styles were explored and pioneered by
Filipino artists who gained experience
abroad.
 
 Mural painting emerged,
spearheaded by Carlos Francisco. Art

1960s
Modern art reached its peak.
 Ink Fish
 First Mass in Limasawa
 Planting of the first Cross
 Mother and Child
1970s
Most of the artists in the 1960’s continued to
produce important works in this period.
Emergence of different movements such as
People’s Art or Art for the Masses, Protest Art,
Social Realism, and the institutionalization of
the National Artist Award (1972). 11 National
Artists whose works are represented in the
collection:
 

Fernando C. Amorsolo-1972
(Painting)
 Carlos V. Francisco-1973
(Painting)
 Guillermo E. Tolentino-1973
(Sculpture)
 Victorio C. Edades-1974
(Painting)
 Napoleon V. Abueva-1976
(Sculpture)
 Vicente S. Manansala-1981
(Painting)
 Cesar T. Legaspi-1990
(Painting)
 Hernando R. Ocampo-1991
(Painting)
 Arturo V. Luz-1997
(Painting)
 Jerry E. Navarro-1999
(Painting/Sculpture)
 Ang Kiukok-2001
(Painting)
 
 Hills of Nikko
1980s
The period is characterized by a revival of
traditional art and ethnic art. Contemporary
sculpture became an integral part of buildings
and parks.

Artists in the collection: Eduardo Castrillo,
Ramon Orlina, Solomon Saprid, Raul Isidro,
Red Mansueto, Charito Bitanga, Phillip Victor,
Emilio Aguilar Cruz, Federico Alcuaz, Al Perez,
Virginia T. Navarro, Abdul Mari Imao, Rey Paz
Contreras, Jerusalino Araos, Norris Castillo,
and others.
1990s
New generation of painters, sculptors and
printmakers expressing their personal feelings
and expressions emerged. Great art movement
in Europe and the Americas gained entry to the
local scene such as installation art and
experimental art. Galleries and museums were
institutionalized spearheading activities in the
cultural scene.
 
 Artists represented in the
collection: Ibarra dela Rosa, Prudencio
Lamarroza, Elizabeth Chan, Eduardo Castrillo,
Pacita Abad, Fil dela Cruz, Romulo Galicano,
Symfronio Y. Mendoza, Godofredo Y.
Mendoza, Rafael Pacheco, and others.

2000 to present

Philippine art has come a long way, from the

primitive ingenuity of the Filipinos to the
present avante-garde artists exploring all
possible techniques and schools ranging from
the traditionalists, representationalists,
abstractionists, abstract expressionists, semi-
abstractionists, figurative expressionists, non-
objectivists and other forms of -isms.
 
 Art
today is an open forum of visual statements.