Spanish

z
Colonial
Period
(1521-1898)
 What kinds of
art were
z
developed
during
Spanish
Colonization?
Art that flourished during
z

Spanish Colonial period

conformed to the
demands of the church
and the colonial state.
 z

The art forms from that

period are referred to
stylistically and culturally
as religious art.
 z

The natives were forcibly

resettled in towns
structured according to
the plaza complex.
 z

During this period,

cruciform churches
following the shape of the
Latin cross were built.
 z

Baroque style were

predominant characterized by
grandeur, drama, and
elaborate details that purposely
appealed to the emotions.
Local interventions have
z

been employed in order to

suit native sensibilities
and to adjust local
environmental conditions.
Images of saints and
z

interpretations of biblical
narratives were
considered essential to
worship.
 z

Images were
produced through
painting, sculpting,
and engraving
Images were made of
z

ivory or wood, the imagery

of the santo would be
based on classical and
baroque models
 z

In colonial churches,

santos are displayed
in retablo.
 z

Via Crucis presented

either as a series of
14 paintings or relief
sculptures
 z

Tromp l’oeil refers to

paintings that give a
heightened illusion of
three-dimensionality.
 z

Church altars are

sometimes decorated
with relleves or with
plateria
 z

With the coming of the

Spaniards, Philippine
musical forms also took
on a very European flavor
Outside of Manila, a
z

musical form based on

the Catholic faith would
emerge in the pasyon or
pabasa
 z

In the lowland Christian

communities, secular
music forms like awit and
corrido soon flourished.
 z

Among Mangyans,
baybayin script were
etched in bamboo poles
to composed short poems
 z

Local theater forms

would develop earlier
than literary fiction
 z

The ritual dances were

replaced by the pomp
and pageantry of
religious processions
Severino Reyes and
z

Hermogenes Ilagan were

the most distinguished
playwrights and wrote
sarsuwelas in Tagalog.
 z

The first senakulo was

written in 1704 by
Gaspar Aquino de
Belen.
 z

Senakulo is performed
during Lent and may
last for three days
 z

Komedya is another
local theater form that
emerged during this
period
 z

Two types of
komedya: komedya de
santo and secular
komedya
 z

Today there are several

groups that still perform
both the komedya and
senakulo
Centuries of galleon trade
z

between Mexico and

Philippines brought
influences to Philippine
folk music and dance
Painting served an
z

instructive function
through visual
interpretation of biblical
texts central to Catholic
Image making during the
z

period generally
conformed to the
preference of the patrons
not the artist