The Filipino Artists
a research paper
by Gabriel D. Maynigo
AN ART PROJECT
submitted to Ms. Sheila Gacos
The Filipino Artists, a research paper
is a compilation of Gabriel D. Maynigo’s latest
researches about the Philippine’s national artists.
Maynigo is a grade two student at the Diliman
Preparatory School
in Novaliches, Quezon City.
Maynigo enjoys reading literary books and
appreciates various arts –
may it be a poem, a song or a painting.
Maynigo has two younger brothers,
namely Miguel and Daniel.
They spend their usual weekend with their parents
appreciating art and all its form.
Introduction
Tony Velasquez
aka Antonio Velasquez
•1st Filipino cartoonist who published the 1st
Filipino comic strip, Kenkoy (1929)
•1st Filipino comics creator who published the
1st serialized Filipino cartoon strip "Mga
Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy" (Kenkoy's Antics, 1928)
•Founder of the Graphic Arts Service, Inc.
(GASI, 1962)
•Founder of Pilipino Komiks (1947)
•Founder of the Tagalog Klasiks, the Hiwaga
Komiks, and the Espesyal Komiks under the
Ace Publications
•"Father of the Philippine Komiks"
Date of birth
October 29, 1910
birthplace
Paco, Manila, Philippines
year of death
1997
Tony Velasquez' career as a comics artist
spanned the birth, development, and triumph of
the comics industry in the Philippines. Born in
Paco, Manila, Tony Velasquez created the first
serialized Filipino cartoon strip, 'Mga
Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy' ('Kenkoy's Antics') in
1928.
Arguably the most influential comic strip in the
Philippines, 'Mga Kabalbalan ni Kenkoy' opened
the floodgates that started the tradition of
cartoon strips in the Philippines.
During his years as a comic artist, Velasquez
created more than 300 cartoon characters some
of whom became household names in Filipino
homes, such as 'Kenkoy', 'Tsikiting Gubat',
'Talakitok', 'Talimusak', 'Ponyang Halobaybay',
etc.
Upon his death in 1997, Velasquez was already
recognized as the "Father of the Philippine
Komiks".
Fernando Amorsolo
aka Fernando Cueto Amorsolo
1st Filipino National Artist of the Republic of the
Philippines (1972)
1st Filipino Painter to receive the National Artist
Award (1972)
Philippine National Artist in Painting (1972)
Alias
"Grand Old Man of Philippine Art"
"Artist of Light"
date of birth
May 30, 1892
Birthplace
Paco, Manila, Philippines
father: Pedro Amorsolo
mother: Bonifacia Cueto
2nd wife: Maria del Carmen
Fernando and Maria had eight children.
1st wife: Salud Jorge
Fernando and Salud had six children.
Year of death:
April 24, 1972
A few of his art works-
Lavendera A woman wearing a red skirt and sash, and a white blouse
and head covering, holds up the clothes she is washing with her left hand.
According to Sylvia Amorsolo-Lazo, "This scene could be in one of the
streams in Marilao, or Sta. Maria, or Bocaue in Bulacan Province as these
are the places he frequented spending time working on the spot. Marilao is
the place where he saw and courted my mother. The tree at the back that
has the color like of bamboo plants could be just wild bushes with the bright
light of the sun striking it. One could a portion of this plant in between the
rocks. The tree at the right side is definitely not a mango tree. With the vines
hanging from it, it could be that of a balete tree. "
Sunset: Return of the Fishermen was done in 1939, at the
height of Amorsolo’s career. The scene is Manila Bay,
famous for its beautiful sunsets. Mount Samat on Bataan
is the island in the background. A coconut palm shelters
the incoming banca (boat). Nipa huts and bancas are on
the right. Two boats, to the right, have already finished
work for the day. The incoming banca appears to be the
last one to come home. The three figures beach the boat
and prepare to bring in the day’s catch. The figures are
not the focal part of the composition. The glowing sunset
and the misty mountain are the prime elements in the
composition. Amorsolo’s sunset scenes characteristically
have this tonal, transparent glow. Like the subject, they
embody a landscape filled with peace and serenity.
Famous Filipino Artist in Music Category
Andrea Ofilada Veneracion or "Ma'am OA", as
she is affectionately called was born on July 11,
1928. She is a Filipino choral conductor and a
National Artist for Music in the Philippines.
She is the Founding Choirmaster of the Philippine
Madrigal Singers and is internationally recognized
as one of the finest conductors, pedagogues and
musicians of our time. She was also an
adjudicator in numerous international choral
competitions and was an active force in choral
music before her massive stroke in 2005.
In 1997, Andrea Veneracion was awarded the
TOFIL (The Outstanding Filipino) Award for
Culture and the Arts For her contributions to the
development of choral singing in the Philippines.
Eventually in 1999, Ma'am OA was named
National Artist for Music, the highest cultural
award bestowed by the Philippine government for
an individual. In addition, the Philippine Madrigal
Singers was named one of the Resident Artists of
the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
A Filipino Famous Artist, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
was born on January 1917 and died on May
1995. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero was a very famous
Filipino playwright, director, teacher and theater
artist.
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero has written well over a
hundred plays, 41 of which have been
published. Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero’s unpublished
plays have either been broadcast over the radio
or staged in various parts of the Philippines.
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero publications include 13
Plays (first published in 1947), 8 Other Plays
(1952), 7 More Plays (1962), 12 New Plays
(1975), My Favorite 11 Plays (1976), 4 Latest
Plays (1980), Retribution and eight other
selected plays (1990) and The Guerreros of
Ermita (1988).
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero has been the teacher of
some of the most famous people in the
Performing Arts at present: Behn Cervantes,
Celia Diaz-Laurel, Joy Virata, and Joonee
Gamboa.
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero has received three
national awards: the Rizal Pro-Patria Award in
1961, the Araw ng Maynila Award in 1969, and
the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in 1972.
The U.P. Mobile Theater has been a recipient of
two awards when he was its director: The
Citizen's Council for Mass Media Trophy (1966)
and the Balagtas Award (1969).
In 1997, Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero was
posthumously distinguished as a National Artist
for Philippine Theatre.
Juan Luna
Juan Luna was a distinguished Filipino painter
born to Joaquin Luna and Laurena Novicio on
October 23, 1857 in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. He
studied designing at the Academia de Dibujo Y
Pintura at the Ateneo de Manila. He entered
Escuella de Bella Artes in Madrid while he was
on travel in Spain in 1877.
The famous masterpieces that made Juan Luna
a renowned painter are The Death of Cleopatra,
The Blood Compact and The Spolarium.
The Death of Cleopatra made him won the gold
medal and was sold for 5000 pesetas in 1881.
Other remarkable works included:
•Ang Mestisa
* Ang Labanan sa Lepanto
* Ang Tagumpay ni Lapu-lapu
* Ang Aliping Bulag
* Ang Espanya sa Pilipinas
When he returned to the Philippines he was
suspected of being a member of the
Katipuneros that is why he was captured and
imprisoned at Fort Santiago in 1896. Afterwards
he went back to Spain and joined with Graciano
Lopez-Jaena, Marcrlo H. del Pilar and Jose
Rizal. Shortly he died on December 7, 1899 due
to sickness.
A few of his art works-
The painting shows fallen gladiators being dragged to an unseen pile of corpses
in a chamber beneath the Roman arena.
Untitled" , Oil on Canvas, 61 x 91 cms., 1889 Alemania
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo was Filipino painter
that sprung during the 19th century. He was the
third son among the seven children of Eduardo
Resurrecccion Hidalgo and Maria Barbara
Padilla and was born on February 21, 1853 in
Manila.
He studied in the University of Santo Tomas and
simultaneously enrolled at the Escuella de
Dibujo y Pintura. He enrolled at the Academia
de Bellas Artes de San Fernando de Madrid.
The following are the masterpieces of Felix
Resurreccion Hidalgo:
•Flora de Filipinas (Plants of the Philippines) awarded second place for best cover design for
de Luxe edition.
Felix Ressurreccion
Hidalgo (1855-1913)
•La Siesta (Nap in the afternoon) - a piece
which was favorably reviewed in La Ilustracion
Espanola y Americana in 1881.
•Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al
Populacho (The Christian virgins to the
Populace) - garnered the ninth silver medal
award by the Exposicion General de Bells Artes
in Madrid in 1884.
•La Barca de Aqueronte (The Boat of Charon) received a gold medal in the international
exposition in Madrid and was bought for 7500
pesetas by the Spanish government.
* Laguna Estigia (The Styx)
* El Violinista - was accorded a gold medal at
the Universal Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sample of his art work-
Felix Hidalgo, "Lady in Red Shawl", Oil on Canvas,
16 x 11 inches, undated (1870-1880's)
Above: Artist Fernando Amorsolo's Signature
The first Filipino who was distinguished as the Philippines National Artist in
Painting was Fernando Amorsolo in 1972.
His paintings were exhibited on January 23, 1969 during the inauguration of
the Manila Hilton's art center and he was named as the "Grand Old Man of
Philippine Arts".
Amorsolo's works covered a variety of subjects but he was especially known
for ideal and romantic subjects that portrays the images of life in the
countryside of Filipino women such as the Dalagang Bukid or Dalagang
Nayon.
He also painted historical paintings on pre-colonial and Spanish colonization
and events of Filipino customs, fiestas, occupations and cultures.
The technique of backlighting and the use of natural light were Amorsolo's
trademarks.
A few of his masterpieces-
Carlos "Botong" Francisco, the poet of Angono, single-handedly revived the
forgotten art of mural and remained its most distinguished practitioner for nearly
three decades.
In panels such as those that grace the City Hall of Manila, Francisco turned
fragments of the historic past into vivid records of the legendary courage of the
ancestors of his race.
He was invariably linked with the "modernist" artists, forming with Victorio C.
Edades and Galo Ocampo what was then known in the local art circles as "The
Triumvirate".
Botong's unerring eye for composition, the lush tropical sense of color and an
abiding faith in the folk values typified by the townspeople of Angono became
the hallmark of his art.
His other major works include the following: Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of
Limahong, Serenade, Muslim Betrothal, Blood Compact, First Mass at
Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan
sa Bukid, Sandugo.
National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos "Botong" Francisco. Photo courtesy of Vibal Foundation.
A few of his masterpieces-
Katipunan
Bayanihan
Maria Makiling, 1947
Victorio C. Edades became known as the "Father
of Modern Philippine Painting" because of his
technique in painting in bold impasto stroke and
his advocacy in creative art.
The themes illustrated in Edades' works featured
laborers, simple folk and factory workers and he
preferred to use dark and sad colors contrasting to
Amorsolo's technique.
He became the Dean of the University of Santo
Tomas' Department of Achitecture in the 1930's.
He was the one who introduced the liberal arts
programs as part of the subjects in foreign
languages and art history that will lead to a degree
of Bachelor in Fine Arts and this made University
of Santo Tomas the first Philippine art school.
Victorio Edades (1895-1985)
Edades invited Galo B. Ocampo and Carlos
"Botong" Francisco to teach in the university as
professor artists. The three piloted the growth of
mural painting in the Philippines and would
collectively be known as the astounding
"Triumvirate".
When he retired from teaching he was recognized
as an outstanding "visionary, teacher and artist and
was conferred honoris causa of Doctor of Fine
Arts.
Among his works were:
* The artist and the Model
* Portrait of the Professor
* Japanese Girl
* Mother and Daughter
* The Wrestlers
* Poinsettia Girl
A few of his masterpieces-
A few of his masterpieces-
Victorio Edades, "Untitled", Charcoal on Paper, 43 x 28 cms., 1974