Portrait of A Lady by Juan Luna (Oil on wood)

       We continue our tour of the National Art Gallery. The succeeding artworks showcase variety of images and are eloquent enough to convey different messages to the viewers in order to evoke emotions that lay dormant in our hearts.

Gallery III (Philippine Art of the Academic and Romantic Period)

       Gallery III is primarily devoted to the works of the prolific master Juan Luna. Among the more than 50 paintings, one of the more notable pieces is Luna’s Una Bulaqueña.

Bust and self-portrait of Juan Luna y Novicio

Luling Cogiendo Bombones by Juan Luna (Oil on panel)

Study of Cervantes by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas)

Rice Harvesting by Juan Luna (Oil on wood)

Una Bulaqueña by Juan Luna

A Mi Madre by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas)

Portal de un Jardín by Félix Resurrección-Hidalgo (Oil on hardboard)

Some of the paintings exhibited on Gallery III

Dead Child by Simon Flores (Oil on canvas)

Feeding the Chickens by Simon Flores (Oil on canvas)

Diploma conferring a gold medal on Isabelo Tampinco for his participation in the Exposición Regional de Filipinas in 1895

Andalucian Girl by Rafael Enriquez (Oil on canvas)

Vendedor de Periodicos by Telesforo Sucgang (Oil on wood)

Governor Blanco and his Troops by Felix Martinez (Oil on canvas)

Gallery IV (Fundación Santiago Hall)

       This gallery continues the 19th century theme of Gallery III, but it features sculptures by Isabelo L. Tampinco.

Apotheosis of Francisco Balagtas by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Concrete)

Lady with Cherubs by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Lady with Cornucopia (1) and (2) by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Plaster cast)

Grecian Beauty by Vidal Tampinco (Plaster cast)

La Mujer en Reposo by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Bonded marble cast from original)

Niño Gritando by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome wood)

Solitude by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Mujer al lado del Batis by Isabelo L. Tampinco (Polychrome concrete)

Other sculptures in Gallery IV

Gallery XXIV (Queen Sofia Hall)

       Gallery XXIV has an exhibit of the work of Escuela Taller Intramuros when we visit. The exhibit is not astonishing, but the ceiling and the intricate design of the hall are quite interesting.

Gallery XXIV contains photos of Spanish-era houses and their detail

What the former politicians saw when they looked up after a day of debate and lawmaking.

PhilAm Life Exhibit

       This hall is full of Vicente S. Manansala’s huge paintings.

A photo of Vicente S. Manansala

Harana by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

Pagkain and Isda by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

Manok by Vicente S. Manansala (Oil on canvas mounted on wood)

GSIS Collection

       The GSIS Collection is featured in two halls. The first one contains works by Benedicto Cabrera or more popularly known as Bencab, Vicente S. Manansala and Carlos V. Francisco, among others. The second hall has Fernando Amorsolo paintings and Parisian Life by Juan Luna.

Sabel by Benedicto Cabrera (Oil on canvas)

Nipa Hut by Vicente S. Manansala (watercolor on paper)

(from left to right): Works by Vicente S. Manansala-Maria Clara (Ink on paper), Blumentritt (Ink on Canson paper) and Celia (Inkwash, pen and ink on Canson paper)

Station of the Cross #3 and Station of the Cross #5 by Carlos Francisco (Oil on canvas)

Oración by Fernando Amorsolo

Under the Mango Tree (Mango Picking) by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Tindahan by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Las Lavanderas by Fernando Amorsolo (Oil on canvas)

Parisian Life by Juan Luna (Oil on canvas). The woman is said to be a prostitute while the three men in the background are Juan Luna, José Rizal and Ariston Lin. According to Jed, the woman also represents the Philippines because the form of the woman looks like the map of the country.

Gallery of Personalities

       This hall has four walls covered with paintings of different personalities each one represents a sector in the society.

A portion of the many personalities in the Philippines by Federico Alcuaz (Oil on canvas)

       After three hours of looking at paintings and sculptures, we leave the museum to have lunch at President Grand Palace Restaurant in Binondo. We return after one hour to visit the Museum of the Filipino People.

       The National Art Gallery is along P. Burgos Street, Ermita, Manila. It is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00am to 5:00pm. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Regular admission price for adult is P150 (US $3.46), senior citizen with ID, P120 (US $2.77), student with ID, P50 (US $1.15) and children below four years old get in for free. Entrance is free to all visitors on Sundays. Gallery tours are available, just contact Museum Education at (02) 527-0278 or at (02) 527-1215.

For more information, please visit www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph