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	Article Partner Philippines June 1, 2007 Art History in Brief By: Jack Teotico History of art in the Philippines started with religious art. Even before the coming of Spaniards, the pre-colonial tribes main artistic expression was religious in nature. Art showed images of various deities in the form of Anitos. When the Spaniards came in 1521, one of the earliest art forms to come over through the vast Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans was a sculpture of Sto. Niño. During the Spanish rule, the Catholic religion became the main source of subjects and inspiration for artists in the archipelago. In the 19th century, the influx of greater trade and the opening of Philippine ports to other countries also brought in new ideas. Many of the major names in Philippine art during the Spanish colonial period such as Damian Domingo and Juan Arzeo actually became famous for their religious paintings. In the latter part of the 19th Century, more and more Filipino families began having themselves done in portrait form. May of them posed complete in their piña finery. This was when Simeon Flores and Justiniano Asuncion became famous artists. Fernando Amorsolo and Fabian Dela Rosa ushered in a period of genre panting and then a little before the Second World War, Victor Edades, Botong Francisco, Galo Ocampo ushered in the period of the Modernism later H.R. Ocampo and twelve other artists spearheaded the Neo-Realist movement introducing contemporary and highly creative ways of representing reality either in a figurative way or in an abstract style. Modernist Galo Ocampo in 1938 had a very interesting painting titled Brown Madonna wherein Mother Mary was depicted with Malay features. Abstract artist Fernando Zobel in his earlier years as an artist had a very popular painting of Carroza or the carriages used for religious processions during used for religious processions during fiestas. National Artist Ang Kiukok who popularly deconstructed reality and presented highly expressionist styles was popular not only for his Fighting Dogs, but for his Crucifixion and Madonna paintings as well. Mario Parial whose works are regularly auctioned in Sotheby’s is also known for his Marian paintings. Lydia Velasco, another Sotheby’s auctioned artist usually acknowledges the influence of religion in Philippines culture as some of her female figures are adorned with crucifixes or scapulars. Jerry Morada, perhaps one of the most exciting young artists of today always has his women bedecked with the scapular. Another name of one of the most profound influences on Philippines genre and painting in general was Fabian Dela Rosa (1869-1937), the brightest name in Philippine painting after Luna and certainly the most important for the first quarter of this century. By the 1930’s the most celebrated and successful artist was Fernando Amorsolo (1892 – 1972). The years 1920 – 1945 stand out as Amorsolo’s golden period. In 1913 Juan Arellano (1880-1960) returned from studies in Europe a licensed architect and a full-fledged Impressionist. Arellano, as an architect, designs some of the best known landmarks in Manila: The Legislative Building, the Post Office building, and others. Modernism in the Philippines opened formally in 1928 with an exhibition of works by another painter and architect, Victorio Edades (1895-1985). In the year 1935, Edades, and his two students Carlos Francisco (1913-1962) and Galo Ocampo (1913-1985). They became known as the “Trumvirate of Modern Art”. The three were joined by Arsenio Capili, Bonifacio Cristobal, Demetrio Diego, Cesar Legaspi , Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Vicente Manansala, Jose Pardo, H.R. Ocampo, Diosdado Lorenzo and Ricarte Puruganan. A group of ‘neo-realists’ also emerged. Hernando R. Ocampo (1911-1978), Ramon Estella (1911-1991), Vicente Manansala (1913 – 1981), Victor Oteyza (1913-1979), Cesar Legaspi 1917-1994) and Romeo Tabuena (born 1926).

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