Afternoon fun at the National Museum

Spoliarium by Juan Luna - oil on canvas, 1884

Last May 2015, National Museum declared that the admission was going to be free because it was the museum month. Despite my fever, I persuaded my family that a trip to the National Museum and see Vicente Manansala's paintings was a good reason to get out of my sick bed. That, and because my parents haven't been inside the National Museum yet! (Photos are unedited. Please do not grab my photos without permission or credit.)

Mother's Revenge by Jose Rizal - terra cotta, 1894

My sister has been to the museum for a school project, and I've been here with a friend a few years ago because I wanted to see the Spoliarium. It's one of my favorite paintings in the world, although standing before it a second time, I wondered if it was the original, or it was starting to fade. My parents, who have seen it when it was displayed in Malacanang Palace before, agreed. It looked a little washed out and faded compared to before.

It was fun going to National Museum with my family. My parents were clearly delighted, and looked like a young couple, with my dad frequently had his arm around mama. #relationshipgoals

I also remembered some tidbits from history in high school, like the fact that Jose Rizal also made some sculptures. Then I discovered some new-to-me artists and work I haven't seen before. I love art, and being in the National Museum filled with incredible paintings and info just made the geek in me thrilled to the bones.

Some of the artworks that stood out for me are:

National Artist Guillermo Tolentino's Diwata. This was the first time I've seen it, and I cannot help but take a picture. Look at the draping of the dress, at the fluidity of the folds at the bottom, contrasting the seeming rigidity of the wingspan. It speaks to me of both femininity and power, even as exhibits a slight vulnerability with her arms up.

Diwata by Guillermo Tolentino - reinforced concrete, ca. 1950s

Vista de un Barrio, Guagua by Francisco de Paula Rodoreda. It was done in watercolor, and the details were so precise, and the painting so soothing that I just had to take a picture.

Vista de un Barrio, Guagua by Rodoreda, watercolor, ca. 1890

Another painting is Antonio Luna's Portrait of a Lady. This was the first time I've seen this, and I love the soft rendering. She looks so soft, vulnerable, trapped, and just a little lost in her own thoughts. This also reminded me of Henry James' novel of the same name. A quick Google search implies that this painting was inspired by that book, although I'm not sure how true this is.

Portrait of a Lady by Antonio Luna, 1891

This particular painting fascinated me because this was done on board. I didn't know you can do paintings on board. I'm more used to canvasas. But I love the soft swirls and dreamy feeling given to such an ordinary, everyday scenario.

Carabaos in Pink by Romeo V. Tabuena - oil on board, 1957

Aside from the paintings, there is also an interesting art-related object displayed, such as this "Palette of Masters" on hardwood, which has been passed down by Filipino artists. This was originally the palette of National Artist Botong Francisco, which he gave to National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, who then passed it on to Emilio Aguilar, then Sofronio Ylanan Mendoza, then finally to Romulo Galicano, who painted this scene in 1997 to commemorate its special provenance, and as a gift to his wife Christy.

Botong Francisco's original palette

Then we reached Botong Francisco's painting, and I think my jaw dropped because 1) this was beautiful. My picture doesn't do it justice, and 2) because I only heard about it in grade 4 and saw it in black and white in our textbook. I tested my parents and asked them what this painting was and, without missing a beat, they said the name of the painting. Do you?

The First Mass in Limasawa by Botong Francisco, 1965

According to the National Museum, The First Mass in Limasawa is a "mural depicts Fr. Pedro Valderrama officiating the mass in an improvised altar in the presence of Ferdinand Magellan, Pigafetta (chronicler of Magellan), Spanish soldiers, and the natives in awe.
I believe that The First Mass in Limasawa is a painting that deserves to be seen in the flesh.

I also discovered this painting by Joya, who is an artist I have never heard of. However, this painting, of which I don't know the name, definitely made me stand up straighter and take notice. And I just had to have my picture taken with it. #artappreciation

Abstract by Joya

Parents dating like they were teenagers

The National Museum is pretty big, so we were pretty thankful that they had benches in select places. Some where inside galleries and some where along the corridors.