National Musem - Art Gallery

Finally, like what I said on my previous post about the National Museum that I will find time to visit the Art Gallery, since that time it's under renovation so it was close to public --  and finally I was able to visit the Art Gallery. 

This will be my first time to visit the Art Gallery and I can say that they did a great job on renovating the interiors of the old Congress building. The building lobby gives you the feel of its former glory.

My first stop was the infamous Spolarium by Juan Luna which depicts the cruelty of the Spaniards to Filipinos during the Spanish colonization.

I also took pictures of the renovated interior of the Spolarium gallery

There's another painting opposite of Spolarium but I forgot to get the name of the painter. It has the same theme as Spolarium about the Spanish rule of Philippines.

I don't know who is Jose Joya but his oil in wood creation named NALAD was quite interesting.

Vincente Manansala's "Planting of the First Cross".

Gallery VIII by Silvina and Juan C. Laya. Paintings and sculpture depicting the era of war, specifically the imperial Japanese occupation, the Liberation of the Philippines by American and Filipino forces, and the destruction of Manila.

Gallery X the Museum Foundation Hall. This gallery is dedicated to the progress of medicine in the Philippines, a set of four large paintings by Carlos V. Francisco specifically commissioned for the entrance hall of Philippine General Hospital in 1953

There are also paintings by Fernando Amorsolo.

Portrait of Julieta Abad Rufino 

Portrait of a Lady (unfinished)

Portrait of Manual Roxas

Various Drawings, Studies and Notes by Fernando Amorsolo; Graphite on paper.

I don't know who's Ramon Peralta but this painting freaks me out, it seems the girl on the painting was staring at me. I'm sorry for the shot 'coz this painting is larger than me and due to small space I wasn't to get a perfect angle to take a good picture. 

Portrait of Serapia Santos y Aduna By Ramon Peralta

Gallery V is works by the polymath and National Hero Dr.Jose P. Rizal, including four original sculptures and one fine drawing, View of Gendarmenmarkt, from his 1886 sojourn in Berlin. Included is Rizal's work Mother's Revenge, a declared National Cultural Treasure , together with his bust of Ricardo Carcinero, San Pablo Ermitano, Oyang Dapitana as well as several portrait busts and painting of Rizal by eminent Filipino artists, including Isabelo Tampinco and Martino Abellana from the early 20th century until the 1950's.

 Bust of Ricardo Carcinero by Jose Rizal

San Pablo Ermitano by Jose Rizal

Oyang Dapitana by Jose P. Rizal

Oyang Dapitana by Guillermo E. Tolentino, Jose Rizal and Isabelo L. Tampinco

View of Gendarmenmarkt by Jose Rizal

There's alot of Juan Luna paintings on display but this portrait of a lady from Bulacan I believe since the Title of the painting is Una Bulaquena really caught my attention cause it seems the lady in the portrait is alive. As they say, you can call yourself a great painter if your work looks alive. 

I wasn't able to visit the other galleries since I went there late already. The museum closes til 5pm so be there early because there's a lot to see inside the museum. But at least I was able to fulfill my mission to see the infamous Spolarium by Juan Luna. 

The Art gallery is also free of charge during Sundays, so there's no excuse for each and every Filipino not to visit the museum. Please find time guys, let us find time to see how rich our culture and history is. We must be proud that our ancestors was able to give us treasures like these.

To get to the museum, please check my previous post. Directions and fees were stated there.