THE NATIONAL

MUSEUM OF FINE
ARTS
(NARRATIVE REPORT)

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

The National Museum of Fine Arts is home of 29 galleries and hallway exhibitions
comprising of 19th Century Filipino Master’s, National Artist, Painter’s, Sculpture’s, and
Printmaker’s. Museum entrance is free and open for everyone from 9 am to 6 pm on
Tuesday until Sunday, wherein the only requirement are valid I.D. The National
Museum of Fine Arts is located at Padre Burgos Ave. Ermita, Manila.
You can travel across time at the National Museum of Fine Arts. History exists on every
floor. Each gallery shows a particular era. Every masterpiece stands for an important
role of the history that describes our country. The structure itself is amazing. The
museum, owned and operated by the National Museum of the Philippines, was founded
in 1998 and houses a collection of paintings and sculptures by classical Filipino artists
such as Juan Luna, Felix Resureccion Hidalgo and Guillermo Tolentino. Here are the
artworks that have been shared by the vlogger Joseph Bautista.
Inside the Museum, the first gallery was the Spoliaruim Hall. As you enter the hall, you
will find Guillermo Tolentino’s “Diwata” on the entrance. It is created after Guillermo
Tolentino returned from his studies in the US and Europe, this hitherto unnamed
mortuary statue is an example of how the sculptor intended to forsake the sculptural

tradition but could not. It is a reminder that the National Artist continued to accept
commissioned private work despite his then newly acquired fame.

This work also recasts Tolentino’s winged victory sculpture that surmounts the pillar of
his Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City, which he completed in 1933. Embellishing the
Reyes Family Mausoleum in Malolos, Bulacan, it continued to establish the sculptor’s
mastery in classical statuary.

The hall is dominated by the Spoliarium, Juan Luna’s most famous art in the
Philippines.

The painting features a glimpse of Roman history centered on the bloody carnage
brought by gladiatorial matches. Spoliarium is a Latin word referring to the basement of
the Roman Colosseum where the fallen and dying gladiators are dumped and devoid of
their worldly possessions. At the center of Luna’s painting are fallen gladiators being
dragged by Roman soldiers. On the left, spectators ardently await their chance to strip
off the combatants of their metal helmets and other armory. In contrast with the
charged emotions featured on the left, the right side meanwhile presents a somber
mood. An old man carries a torch perhaps searching for his son while a woman weeps
the death of her loved one.
The Spoliarium Is the most valuable oil-on-canvas painting by Juan Luna, a Filipino
educated at the Academiade Dibujo y Pintura (Philippines) and at the Academia de San
Fernando in Madrid, Spain. With a size of 4.22 meters x 7.675 meters, it is the largest
painting in the Philippines. A historical painting, it was made by Luna in 1884 as an
entry to the prestigious Exposicion de Bellas Artes (Madrid Art Exposition, May 1884)
and eventually won for him the First Gold Medal. The painting symbolizes the despair
and the countless deaths of Filipinos during the Spanish reign.

Another hall display is Felix Resureccion Hidalgo’s painting, the assassination

of Governor Bustamante.

The oil painting, entitled “La Tragedia de Gobernador Bustamanate” (“The Assassination
of Governor Bustamante”, hereinafter referred as La Tragedia), depicts the murder of
Governor General Bustamante set in a foreground of friar-led tumult. This painting is a
historical one as it portrays the tragic death of Governor General Bustamante in the
hands of his adversaries on the year 1717.
At the back of the Spoliarium is the Ang Kiukok Men at Work.

“Men at Work” is a large-scale triptych oil on canvas painting created in 1979 by Ang
Kiukok (1931-2005). This semiabstract painting depicting solid, heavy, and muscular
human limbs and torso in tones of black and white and engaged in physical work
represents the strength of the labor force. It was created in 1979 as a commissioned
painting for the National Manpower and Youth Commission (NMYC) of the Department
of Labor and Employment (DOLE). This was before the NMYC merged with the Bureau
of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE) of the Department of Education, Culture
and Sports (DECS). The Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) of DOLE formed the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA in 1994. The painting
used to be displayed at the auditorium entrance of the TESDA-NCR Office in Taguig.
The painting is currently loaned to the National Museum of the Philippines by the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and can be viewed at
the Spoliarium Hall. In 2021, Ang Kiukok’s “Men at Work” (1979) was declared a
National Cultural Treasure (NCT) and Important Cultural Property (ICT) by the National
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). 
Next is the Gallery I. The Religious art from the 17th to the 19th century.
The Gallery I or also known as the Luis I Ablaza Hall houses a collection of Religious Art
from the 17th to 19th Centuries. These religious art was prevalent in the country during
the Spanish colonial era.

Outside of the Gallery 1 is the collection of the drawings of Juan de Cuellar

between 1786 and 1792 of Philippine Plants.

This hallway features 50 prints of 18th century drawings by Juan de Cuellar from the
Real Jardín Botánico. These were given by King Juan Carlos I of Spain to former
President Fidel V. Ramos as a gift to the Filipino People during the visit of the King and
Queen of Spain to the Philippines from April 1 to 4, 1996.
Gallery III. The paintings of the Philippine Colonial Tradition of Sacred Art.

The Gallery Iv or also known as the Ramon and Milagros Del Rosario Family Hall also
highlights another huge collection of religious artworks from the Bangko Sentral ng
Pilipinas Collection. This gallery features polychromes and paintings of early religious
images, interpreted by local Filipino artists and artisans.

Gallery IV. The Paintings of the Philippine Colonial of Portraiture.

The Gallery IV or also known as the Fundacion Santiago Hall features paintings that
convey self-representation, aspiration, and likeness, among other desires and
projections that characterize 19th century portraits found in the Philippines. The Gallery
features more than 30 extraordinary works of portraiture from this era. These paintings,
like all portraits, serve to memorialize both the living and the dead.

Gallery V. A hall dedicated to Dr. Jose Rizal.

Gallery V or better known as the Dr Jose Rizal Hall pays tribute to our National hero.
The exhibit honors Dr Jose Rizal who aside from being a prominent doctor and write is
also a skilled artist. The gallery highlights some of his works and other paintings and
sculptures from various artists that features him.
Gallery VI. Paintings of Los Dos Pintores, Juan Luna and Felix Resureccion
Hidalgo.

Gallery VI that is located in the Far East Bank and Trust Company – Andrés and Grace
Luna de San Pedro Memorial Hall features paintings of Los Dos Pintores Juan Luna and
Felix R. Hidalgo. It highlights a huge collection of the major works and oil studies by
Juan Luna and his contemporary and friend, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.
Gallery VII. Paintings depicting the 2nd World War.

Located in Silvina and Juan C. Laya Hall is the Gallery VIII that features paintings and
artworks related to the events of the Second World War. Works in this gallery portray
the Imperial Japanese Occupation from 1941-1945, the Liberation of the Philippines by
American and Filipino forces, and the destruction of Manila.Be warned that most of the
paintings in this gallery contains graphic images that may be disturbing to some
viewers.
Gallery X. The Paintings of the National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Gallery X is located in the Early 20th Century Philippine Portrait Hall. Displayed here are
works of portraiture by artists of the classical realist school, dating from 1903 to 1960s
including the works of the National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Gallery XI. Contains over 100 sketches by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.

Located in the Society for the Preservation of Philippine Culture Hall is a Gallery
dedicated to Fernando Amorsolo alone. his gallery contains over 100 sketches by
Fernando Amorsolo who is considered the first ever National Artist of the Philippines.
On display are a series of black-and-white pencil and ink sketches and oil studies of his
subjects before making the actual and final artwork. Also displayed is a stained glass
work by his nephew, painter Caesar Amorsolo.
Gallery XII. This gallery pays honor to the life and work of National Artist,
Guillermo Tolentino.

Gallery XII is located in the Security Bank Hall of National Museum. This gallery pays
honor to the life and work of National Artist, Guillermo Tolentino. Most of his work and
memorabilia presented in this gallery are from his family and several private patrons
and institutional partners of the National Museum of the Philippines.

Gallery XIII. Contains the work of Cesar Legazpi and Napoleon Abueva.
Gallery XIII in Vicente and Carmen Fabella Hall features the fourth painting in the series
that comprise the Filipino Struggles Through History. It includes works of National Artist

Napoleon Abueva, including two large wood reliefs that he made with the assistance of
Renato Rocha, and Jose Mendoza portraying Rajah Sulayman, His Court, and the
Palisades, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, and the Founding of Manila.
Gallery XVI. Dedicated to the Pillars of Modernism.

The exhibition for Gallery XIV is entitled “Pillars of Philippine Modernism”. This gallery
features modern Philippine art from the 1920s to the 1970s. Mainly features the works
of Victorio Edades. Works of Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. (1912-2017), Juvenal Sanso (b.
1929), and Galo Ocampo (1913-1985), as well as sculptures by Diosdado Lorenzo
(1906-1984), are also featured here.

Gallery XV. Dedicated to the life and works of Emilio Aguilar Cruz.

Gallery XV or the E. Aguilar Cruz Hall is dedicated to the life and works of Emilio Aguilar
Cruz. Launched in celebration of his centennial year on September 23, 2015. The
artist’s family donated the artwork featured in this exhibition. He is best known as a
writer, diplomat, and cultural authority.
Gallery XVI. Consist of 4 large scale painting called The Progress of Medicine
in the Philippines by Carlos “Butong” Francisco.

Gallery XVI or the Philippine General Hospital Hall is dedicated to The Progress of
Medicine in the Philippines, a set of four large-scale paintings by National Artist Carlos
“Botong” Francisco. These were especially commissioned for the entrance hall of the
Philippine General Hospital in 1953. Declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2011,
these important works are on loan to the National Museum by the University of the
Philippines to secure their preservation. Also featured in this gallery is a large-scale
wood relief by renowned sculptor Jose P. Alcantara from the Philam Life Collection
which previously adorned the Philam Life Theater.
Gallery XVII. Features 16 mixed media works by sculptor Impy Pilapil.

Entitled as Circa, Gallery XVII features 16 mixed media works by sculptor Impy Pilapil.
In brief, these works are the artist’s retrospective, featuring some of her sculptures
made of armor wood, stainless steel, and Romblon marble made between 1994 to
2017.
Gallery XVIII. The Pillars of the Philippine Modernism.

Also entitled as Pillars of Philippine Modernism, Gallery XVIII features modernist art
pieces from the 1940s to 1980s, with works by a number of National Artists such as
Carlos “Botong” Francisco,Jose Joya, Cesar Legaspi, and Abdulmari Asia Imao.

Gallery XIX. Also contains the Pillars of the Philippine Modernism.

Gallery XIX pays homage to the paintings and sketches of National Artists Hernando R.
Ocampo, Ang Kiukok, and Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera. Also on display are two
paintings from a series of the Stations of the Cross made by NA Carlos “Botong”
Francisco. Most of these pieces were completed in the 1950s to 1970s, ranging from
the early days of modernism in the Philippines to the height of its popularity. The image
above features the Abstract Paintings by the National Artist for Visual Arts , Hernando R
Ocampo.
Gallery XXII. Pays homage to the works of National Artist for Painting
Vicente S Manasala.

The International Rice Research Institution (IRRI) Hall (Gallery XXII) features two
large-scale paintings and their watercolor studies by National Artist Vicente S.
Manansala. These paintings were commissioned by the institute to depict Filipino life,
labor, and leisure, and were completed in 1962. Also featured in this gallery is a large-
scale wood relief by renowned sculptor Jose P. Alcantara. The image above features the
paintings of Vicente Manansala

The vlogger Joseph Bautista spent about 3 hours inside the museum, and he claims
that 3 hours is insufficient to view everything. All of the displays and artworks, he says,
are wonderful and were created by our very own National Artist. The Spoliarium by
Juan Luna, which earned a medal at the 1984 European Exposition, was the best piece
inside the museum.