12 Famous Monuments and Shrines in the Philippines that You should Visit

The Philippines is not only an archipelago with beautiful beaches, colorful festivals and hospitable
people but also a country that is rich in historical heritage and landmarks. If you are travelling across the
islands of the Philippines, you will not only be travelling through different places but also through
different historical points in time. Here are 12 famous monuments and shrines in the Philippines that
you can add to your travel bucket list.

1. Rizal Monument (Bantayog ni Jose Rizal)

Basic information:

Location: Rizal Park (Luneta), Manila

Designer: Richard Kissling

Date of inauguration: December 30 , 1913

Dedicated to: To the memory of José Rizal, patriot and martyr.

Why you should visit it:

The monument of Rizal in Rizal Park (Luneta) is considered by many as the most popular, most visited
and most photographed monument in the Philippines. It housed the remains of Jose Rizal, a Filipino
nationalist, novelist, poet, journalist, ophthalmologist, and a national hero.

Rizal wrote the novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo to expose the cruelty and injustice of the
Spanish ruling government in the Philippines during his time. Because of his revolutionary writings, he
was executed by a firing squad in Luneta on December 30, 1896.

There are at least 118 Rizal monuments in the Philippines and at least 10 in the other parts of the world.
There’s even a replica of the Rizal monument in Luneta in Madrid, Spain. Read this article to learn more
interesting facts about the monument of Rizal.

2. Bonifacio Monument (Monumento)

Basic information:

Location: Grace Park, Caloocan City, Metro Manila

Designer: Guillermo Tolentino

Date of inauguration: November 30, 1933

Dedicated to: To the memory of Andrés Bonifacio, the founder and Supremo of the Katipunan.
Why you should visit it:

Andres Bonifacio is popularly known as the father of the Philippine Revolution, and the founder and
Supremo of the Katipunan or the Samahang Kataastaasan, Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng
Bayan (KKK). He is an icon of bravery and pride of the Filipinos.

The monument is one of the most beautiful works of art in the Philippines. It was designed by national
artist Guillermo Tolentino, who also sculpted the famous University of the Philippines’ Oblation statue.

An important historical and cultural landmark in the Philippines, the monument has twenty-three
figures, including Emilio Jacinto (popularly known as the brains of the Katipunan ) and the three
martyred priests Mariano Gomez, Jose Apolonio Burgos and Jacinto Zamora (well known by many
Filipinos as the GOMBURZA).

3. Lapu-Lapu Shrine

Basic information:

Location: Liberty Shrine, Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Dedicated to: Lapu-Lapu, a native chieftain of Mactan who defeated Magellan in the battle of Mactan in
1521.

Date built: Sometime in 1969 through RA. 5695

Why you should visit it:

Lapu-Lapu is considered as the first Filipino hero who successfully defended the Philippines from the
Spanish invasion. He’s a symbol of courage and success in defeating enemies. In fact, his image is the
central figure in the seal of the Philippine National Police and the Bureau of Fire Protection.

He is best known as the hero of the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. The battle of Mactan stopped
the invasion of Magellan in Cebu and delayed the Spanish occupation of the islands by over forty years
until the expedition of Miguel López de Legazpi in 1564.

The monument of Lapu-Lapu is located in Liberty Shrine (Mactan Shrine), where the historic battle of
Mactan took place at dawn on April 27, 1521. The area is also the place where Magellan Shrine and the
marker of the spot the Portuguese conquistador was killed are located.

4. Magellan Shrine

Basic Information

Location: Liberty Shrine (Mactan Shrine), Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Dedicated to: Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan

Date built: 1866

Why you should visit it:

The monument of Magellan is the oldest in this list. It was built in 1866 – that makes the monument
almost 150 years old now. The monument or shrine of Magellan is just a few steps from the statue of
Lapu-Lapu. Both monuments and other important markers of events that happened during the historic
battle of Mactan are found in Liberty Shrine or Mactan Shrine.

Ferdinand Magellan may be remembered by Filipinos as an enemy of the legendary hero Lapu-Lapu but
the Portuguese explorer is also recognized by many as the man who brought Christianity in the
Philippines.

The Portuguese explorer is also recognized by the world as the one who organized the Spanish
expedition from 1519 to 1522 that resulted to the first circumnavigation of the Earth. A few steps from
the monument of Magellan is a marker on the exact spot where the Portuguese explorer was killed
during the Battle of Mactan.

5. Leyte Landing Monument

Basic information:

Location: MacArthur Landing Memorial Park, Palo, Leyte

Designer: Anastacio Caedo

Date of inauguration: October 20 1981

Dedicated to: General Douglas MacArthur, his entourage, and all the soldiers who fought and died in the
battles of Leyte during the World War II

Why you should visit it:

MacArthur Landing Memorial Park in Palo beach was the site where the Allied Forces led by General
Douglas MacArthur landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944. The monument also reminds us the fulfillment
of MacArthur’s iconic words and promise “I shall return”. The fulfillment of that promise was the start of
the Leyte invasion and his campaign to liberate the Philippines from the Japanese occupation during the
World War II.

This historic event also led to the naval battle between the Japanese Imperial Navy and the US Navy
(with the help from the Australian Royal Navy). The Battles of Leyte Gulf is recognized by many
historians as the largest naval battle in history.

The Leyte Landing monument is composed of seven double-life-sized bronze statues of General Douglas
MacArthur, Philippine President Sergio Osmeña, Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland, Brigadier
General Carlos P. Romulo, Major General Courtney Whitney, Sergeant Francisco Salveron and CBS Radio
correspondent William J. Dunn.
The monument also resembles the iconic photo of MacArthur and his entourage during the historic A-
Day Landing as captured by Gaetano Faillace.

6. Sandugo (Blood Compact) Shrine

Basic information:

Location: Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Designer: Napoleon Abueva

Dedicated to: The peace pact between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565

Why you should visit it:

The province of Bohol in Visayas is not only home to the magnificent Chocolate Hills and clear water
beaches but also to rich historical sites. One of the most famous landmarks and historical sites in the
Philippines is the site of the Blood Compact (Sandugo) between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel López de
Legazpi in 1565 to insure the friendly relations between the Spaniards and Filipinos.

Among the monuments in this list, the Blood Compact shrine commemorates friendship rather than
battles or wars.

The Blood Compact monument is one of the works of Napoleon Abueva, a Filipino national artist and
also called as the “Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture”.

7. Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)

Basic information:

Location: Mount Samat, Pilar, Bataan, Philippines

Designer: Lorenzo del Castillo and Napoleon Abueva

Date built: 1970

Dedicated to: The Soldiers who fought for freedom in the Battle of Bataan.

Why you should visit it:

Mount Samat in Bataan was the site where the Philippine and American soldiers took their last stand
against the invading Japanese forces in the Battle of Bataan. After a three-month battle, Bataan fell and
surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. This Japanese victory led to the infamous Bataan Death
March that involved 60,000–80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war. The march resulted to more
than 20,000 dead Filipino and American prisoners of war.

The Shrine of Valor was built not only to honor the gallantry of the Filipinos who fought in the Battle of
Bataan but to honor all the brave soldiers who fought and died fighting for our freedom during the
Japanese invasion.
To commemorate and honor the heroism and bravery of the soldiers who fought the Japanese invaders
in the Battle of Bataan, the Philippine government declared April 9 as a national holiday. The day is
known as Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor.

8. Sultan Kudarat Monument

Basic information:

Location: Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

Dedicated to: Sultan Kudarat, the Muslim brave hero and Mindanao’s most powerful ruler.

Why you should visit it:

Sultan Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, popularly known as Sultan Kudarat, is considered as the greatest
Sultan of Maguindanao and the most powerful Sultan of Mindanao.

His monument located in front of the Provincial Capitol building of Sultan Kudarat is a testament of his
bravery, ingenuity and relentlessness in conquering Mindanao and other parts of the Philippines from
the authority of Spain.

The sultan of Maguindanao never allowed the Spaniards to conquer his sultanate. That is the reason
why Spain failed to invade the whole of Mindanao and convert the natives to Roman Catholics.

The valiant ruler of Mindanao was declared a national hero during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos.

9. Pinaglabanan Shrine and the Spirit of Pinaglabanan

Basic information:

Location: N. Domingo corner Pinaglabanan Street, San Juan, Metro Manila

Designer: Eduardo Castrillo (designer of the Spirit of Pinaglabanan monument)

Date built: 1974

Dedicated to: The brave Katipuneros who fought and died in that battlefield.

Why you should visit it:

Pinaglabanan Shrine commemorates the Battle of San Juan del Monte, the first attempt of the
Katipuneros led by Andres Bonifacio and Emilio Jacinto to fight the Spanish forces in late August of 1896.

Although the battle of San Juan del Monte was won by the Spaniards, the Katipuneros, who were only
armed with bolos and homemade guns, did not lose their spirits. The guts and bravery of the Filipinos
who fought during the battle sent a warning to Spain that their colonization of the Philippines will soon
be over.

The five-hectare Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine includes the Museo ng Katipunan, the Battle of
Pinaglabanan statue (statue of a woman supported by two children, holding up a bolo), and the
monument of the Spirit of Pinaglabanan (the shrine’s centerpiece which is a statue of elongated figures
created by Edgardo Castrillo). For more interesting information about the shrine, read 15 Reasons to
Visit Museo ng Katipunan-Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine.

10. Balangiga Encounter Monument

Location: Balangiga, Eastern Samar

Designer: Napoleon Abueva

Date built: September 28, 2003

Dedicated to: The heroism of the local freedom fighters in Samar

Why you should visit it:

The Balangiga Encounter Monument reminds us that Filipinos will not back down to fight for freedom
against any foreign invader – even against the mighty American forces.

On September 28, 1901, the church bells of Balangiga were rung to signal an attack by native bolo
fighters from Balangiga and the nearby villages of Lawaan, Giporlos and Quinapondan that killed more
than 50 US soldiers. The encounter, popularly known as the Balangiga masacre, was described as the
United States Army’s worst defeat during the Philippine-American War.

The attack outraged Gen. Jacob Smith and instructed his men to kill all Filipinos who were capable of
bearing arms, including boys over 10 years old. Thousands of locals were killed and homes were burned
under Smith’s order.

The historic bells of the church at Balangiga were taken by the Americans as war booty. The bells have
not yet returned to the town’s church even up to this day.

11. Edsa Shrine

Basic information:

Location: Ortigas Center, EDSA corner Ortigas Avenue, Ugong Norte, Quezon City

Designer: Various artists

Date built: 1989

Dedicated to: The peaceful outcome of the People Power Revolution in 1986

Why you should visit it:

The EDSA Shrine was originally built to commemorate the events during the People Power Revolution
and its peaceful outcome. The People Power Revolution (also called the EDSA Revolution or the
Philippine Revolution of 1986) was a series of nonviolent demonstrations joined by over two million
Filipino civilians including several political, military and religious personalities on February 22-25, 1986.
The people power revolution caused the departure of the dictator President Ferdinand Marcos and the
restoration of the country’s democracy.

The Shrine includes the seven-meter bronze statue of Our Lady of Peace, sculpted by Virginia Ty-Navarro
. It has also two chapels – the San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel and the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration – where
catholic devotees can offer a prayer.

12. People Power Monument

Basic information:

Location: Corner of EDSA and White Plains Avenue in Barangay Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Designer: Eduardo Castrillo

Date built: 1993

Dedicated to: The brave Filipinos who marched on the streets of EDSA during the People Power
Revolution in 1986

Why you should visit it:

The monument is about 0.89 kilometers from the EDSA Shrine. I think it’s a great monument to
represent the People Power Revolution or EDSA Revolution in 1986.

The Filipinos earned the respect of the world when they successfully demonstrated the power of the
people without using violence to end dictatorship and regain democracy in the Philippines.

Final thoughts

The historic monuments and shrines in the Philippines should remind us about the bravery, struggles
and sacrifices made by Filipinos over hundreds of years to achieve the freedom that we enjoy today.

In the past, they took care of our independence. In this present time, can we take care of our freedom?

Our heroes paid bloods and lives. Let us visit them, and repay them with respect and honor.

So, how many of the monuments and shrines above have you visited already? What other historical
landmarks in the Philippines can you add to this list? Feel free to make a comment below.
Sculpture - an artistic form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art
objects.

Sculping Methods and Processes:

Carving – the sculptor starts with a block of material and cuts or chips a shape from it. Often a hard
material like stone is used.

Casting – the sculptor starts by making a mold. He/she then pours in a melted-down metal or some
other liquid. Eventually, the liquid hardens. The mold is broken to reveal the newly created work within.
One of the most commonly used media in casting is bronze.

Modeling – the sculptor builds up and shapes a soft material. Clay and fresh plaster are two such
materials.

Assembling – aka constructing. The sculptor glues or in some other way joins together pieces of
material.

Mediums of Sculpture

Clay – a versatile medium in sculpting. It can be the medium to build a finished product or to make
molds for other media. Clay sculptures include small objects that need to be fired in kin.

Steel – welded together can create large or small sculptures. Sculptors create public art form steel as
well as artistic candle holders and table top displays.

Stone – people have carved for centuries to create sculptures. Italian artist Michaelangelo chiseled a
piece of marble into the 17-foot statue of David.

Wax – museums feature realistic models of famous people created from wax. Beeswax can be carved
with the same tools as clay or wood.

Glass – Artists can blow heated glass to create sculptures. Broken shards of glass can also be fused to
build sculptures, with or without the addition of other sculpture media.

Ice – carvings can be elaborate pieces of functional art as seen in the ice hotels of Sweeden or Quebec.
Smaller blocks of ice also become decorative center piece sculptures for wedding or other events.

Wood – artists carve wood into sculptures. Some artists carve exclusively with a chainsaw to create
elaborate wooden sculptures while others use more precise tools to carve and shape the wood. Wood
also often serves as a base for other sculpted material. (e.g, Bul-ul of Ifugao that symbolizes a deity of
rice)

Recycled Material – artists can create assemblage art from discarded materials. Artists have used
automobile parts, broken clocks, household items and tools to build sculptures of all sizes.
Food – chocolate sculptures are temporary pieces of art that can serve as centerpieces for special
events. Food sculptor, Jim Victor has used butter, pepperoni, peanut brittle and cheese to create
statues.

Different types of Sculptures

Relief or relieve rilievo – a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To
create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the
background phone. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History,
relief sculpture is “sculpture that projects in vary degrees from a two-dimensional background.” Relief
sculptures is among the oldest form of sculpted art.

Different degrees of Relief

Bas-relief or low relief – has a very low degree of relief from the base. It is a type of sculpture
that has less depth to the faces and figures than they actually have when measured proportionately (to
scale). This technique retains the natural contours of the figures and allows the work to be viewed from
many angles without distortion of the figures themselves.

High relief – is where in general more than half the mass of the sculpted figure projects from the
background, indeed the most prominent elements of the composition especially heads and limbs are
often completely undercut, detaching them from the field. The parts of the subject that are seen are
normally depicted at their full depth unlike low relief where the elements seen are “squashed” flatter.
High relief thus uses essentially the same style and techniques as free-standing sculpture, and in case of
a single figure gives largely the same view as a person standing directly in front of a free-standing statue
would have. All cultures and periods in which large sculptures in which large sculptures were created
used this technique in monumental sculpture and architecture.

Sunk Relief – or sunken relief is largely restricted to the art of ancient Egypt where it is very
common, becoming after the Amarna period of Ahkenaten the dominant type used, as opposed to low
relief. It had been used earlier but mainly for large reliefs on external walls and for hieroglyphs and
cartouches. The image is made by cutting the relief sculpture itself into a flat surface. In a simpler form
the images are usually mostly linear in nature, like hieroglyphs, but in most cases the figure itself is in
low relief but set within a sunken area shaped round the image so that the relief never rises beyond the
original flat surface.

Counter relief – sunk relief technique should not be confused with this or intaglio as seen on
engrave gem seals – where an image is fully modeled in a “negative” manner. The image goes into the
surface, so that when impressed on wax it gives an impression in normal relief.

Small Objects – small-scale relief have been carved in various materials, notably ivory, wood,
and wax. Reliefs are often found in decorative arts such as ceramics and metalwork; these are less often
described as “reliefs” than as “in relief”
Free Standing Sculpture – aka. Sculpture in-the-round, likely represents the form of sculpture most
recognizable to modern people. It is any work of sculpture which can be viewed from any angle around
the pedestal. This kind of sculpture includes some of the most famous works of sculpture throughout
time; the statutory works of the Greek, Roman, Medieval and Classical eras, including Michaelangelo’s
David.

Kinetic Sculpture – is free-standing sculpture that moves either by mechanical power or under the
power of wind or water. Fountains are a form of kinetic sculpture although in that special case the
sculpture is not powered by the water but lives within the shapes and forms of the water as it arcs over
and through the air.

Assemblage Sculpture – another more modern form of sculpture. It is a sculpture pieced together from
found or scavenged items that have little or no relationship to one another. Contemporary Art
Dialogue’s website defines assemblage art as “non-traditional sculpture, made from re-combining found
objects. Some of these objects are junk from the streets.” These pierced-together bits pf costoff debris
are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing shape to the artist and then presented to its audiences to
provoke thought and reaction. Collages are a sort of two-dimensional representation of assemblage
sculpture.
 LEONARDO DA VINCI

(1452- 1519)

EARLY LIFE

 Leonardo was born in Vinci, a short distance from Florence

 he was the illegitimate son of a notary
 his father married four times and had 11 children but Leonardo was 20 before the 2nd child
was born.
TRAINING

 His father apprenticed him to Andrea del Verrocchio (True eyes) in Florence.
 Leonardo was likely the model for Verocchio’s David
A YOUNG MASTER

 by the age of 20 he surpassed his master, painting the baptism of Christ in 1472
 it is rumored that verrochio never painted again after this.
 by 1474 he had his own workshops, producing the adoration of the magi, which artists
studied from this time onward
A FLAWED GENIUS

 Leonardo was witty, charming and exceedingly handsome. He sang and played music
brilliantly.
 He was a superb host and organizer, but he was reluctant to get close to anyone – probably
because of his homosexuality, which was a crime at the time.
 He thought sex with women hideous, though he admired their ability to produce life.
 He was twice charged with sodomy, though each time the charge was dropped.
 At 38, a 10 year old boy, Gian Gicomo de’ Caprotti, was sent to his workshop and a strange
relationship developed. Leonardo called him Salia – “little Satan,” and he described him as
“thievish, lying, obstinate and greedy,” yet the artist doted on him.
 Salai as John the Baptist

A UNIVERSAL MAN

 There was little that Leonardo did not excel at.

 He was a painter, a sculptor, an engineer, a musician, a singer, a mathematician, a physicist,
a botanist, an anatomist, a cartographer, a geologist, a geographer, a poet, a town planner
and an athlete.
 He always wanted to write a treatise on painting (like Alberti), but never did.
 He seems to have not mastered Latin, the language of scholarship.
 - or perhaps he was simply too busy.

THE NOTEBOOKS

 Leonardo kept notes on everything.

  Around 5,000 pages still exist.
 However, he used mirror-writing to ensure privacy while and after he wrote.
 More mundanely, perhaps he did so because he was left handed and found this easier.
 Leonardo made notes on everything.
 His notes and sketches reveal a mind constantly searching for understanding.
 He was constantly examining and disecting the world.
 His studies were large and small – from anatomical studies of the human arm to plans for a
bridge to cross the Golden Horn in Istanbul.
 Curiously, the Sultan declined building Leonardo’s span, thinking it impossible. In 2006 the
Turkish government commissioned Bulent Gungor to build the structure.

POOR COMPLETION RECORD

 He had a reputation for not completing works.

 Involved in so many things, he could not manage his time.
 When given the commission for the Virgin of the Rocks, he promised it within 7 months but
did not deliver it until 25 years later.
 The Great Horse In the 1480’s he began work on the largest equestrian statue ever
attempted, at 26 feet in height and requiring 100 tons of bronze.
 The clay model was not completed until 1493. His bronze stockpile was cast into canons to
fight the French. In 1499, the French used his clay model for target practice. Until 1965 it
was assumed that the statue was never caste because of technological problems. However,
close study of his notebooks reveal that he solved the problem on paper .

THE LAST SUPPER

 Leonardo was commissioned to paint this for the refectory of a Dominican monastery.
 He disastrously decided to use oils, instead of fresco, on the damp walls.
 It deteriorated almost immediately.
 Painting in fits and starts, and usually with hired musicians playing for him, the project
dragged on to the point where the monks threatened to lock him in until the work was
finished.
 Legend has it that Leonardo retaliated by painting the abbot as the image of Judas.

IN FLORENCE,

 From 1500 to 1513 he lived productively in Florence.

 There he competed, with Michelangelo, for a large battle mural for the town hall.
 This work was lost when he again attempted a new medium – oil and varnish.
 Michelangelo also failed to complete his work.

THE MONA LISA (LA GIACONDA)

 This oil on panel is his most famous work.

 Begun in 1503, it was still in his possession when he died in France.
 Salai sold it to the French King for 4,000 ecus, and so it now resides in the Louvre.
 The subject is Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.
 The pyramidic design is one often employed by Leonardo.
  The etherial landscape reveals his characteristic sfumato and the path reinforces the
tendency of the eye to follow a triangular pattern.
 The enigmatic smile is most frequently commented on.
 His capture of this transient expression displays unparalleled virtuosity.
 There is a hypothesis that this is actually not a direct portrait of a Florentine woman at all –
or that da Vinci has placed elements of his own image in the portrait..

LEONARDO IN ROME

 In 1513, Leonardo departed to Rome, to avoid being hounded to complete the civic mural.
 Pope Leo X was loathe to commission the great artist, knowing his reputation for not
completing his work.

LEONARDO IN FRANCE
 In 1516, Leonardo was invited to join the court of France’s Francis I – a great patron of the
arts.
 There, he spent his last years in luxury, chatting with the King and fussing with his
manuscripts.
 Clos-Luce – given to Leonardo by Francis I
 Leonardo’s home was just a short distance from Francis’chateau at Amboise.
 He is rumoured to have died in Francis’ arms.
 Francis said of him: “no man has been born who knew as much as Leonardo.

Mona Lisa
Today, in 2020, the Mona Lisa is believed to be worth more than $ 860 million, taking
into consideration the inflation. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and
1506 AD. It’s painted in such a way that the eyes of the Mona Lisa fall into the center of vision
of the user, while the lips fall into the peripheral vision

Who painted the Mona Lisa?

 Leonardo da Vinci, an artist, scientist and inventor during the Italian Renaissance, is the painter
of the Mona Lisa. He is considered to be one of the most versatile polymaths of all time.
 The term ‘Renaissance Man’ (someone versatile in a plenty of things) was coined based on
Leonardo’s many talents and is today used to describe people who are similarly versatile in
terms of talent.
 Apart from the Mona Lisa, Leonardo’s other works are also incredibly exquisite. He kept journals
full of drawings and sketches, usually of different subjects that he was studying.
 Some of these drawings were sketches for other drawings, some were studies of anatomy, and
some were more akin to scientific sketches. One of his most famous drawings is the Vitruvian
Man.
  The Vitruvian Man is a picture of a man with perfect proportions, according to the notes from
the Roman architect Vitruvius. Other famous drawings include a design for a flying machine and
a number of self-portraits.

Who was Mona Lisa: The woman in the painting?

 The subject of the paintings is popularly believed to be an Italian noblewoman called Lisa del
Giocondo – the wife of a wealthy Florentine silk merchant named Francesco del Giocondo.
 The painting was commissioned for their new home and to celebrate the birth of their second
son, Andrea.

Mona Lisa meaning

 In those days, in Italy, Mona meant Madonna, which was how all women were addressed (e.g.,
Mrs.) and therefore the name Mona Lisa.
 The Italian name of the Mona Lisa painting is La Gioconda, which literally translates to ‘the
jovial/happy one’. This is supposed to be a pun on the feminine name form of Lisa’s married
name – Giocondo.

When was the Mona Lisa painted?

 It is believed that Da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503 or 1504 in Florence (Italy). It
took Da Vinci 4 years to finish painting the Mona Lisa, despite its surprisingly small size.
 However, there is no clear, undisputed knowledge regarding when exactly was the painting
completed.
 Although the Louvre – world’s largest art museum and a historic monument where the original
Mona Lisa is displayed – states that the Mona Lisa was painted between 1503 to 1506, some
historians and Leonardo experts say that the painting couldn’t have been painted before 1513
AD.

How much is the Mona Lisa worth?

 Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was assessed for insurance in 1962 and it was attached an insurance value
of $100 million.
 That sum, in 2020, is equivalent to more than $860 million after adjusting for inflation.
 The painting is so valuable that in 2014, a France 24 article (France 24 s a French state-owned
international news television network) suggested that the Mona Lisa could be sold to help erase
the national debt of the country!
 However, it was noted that “the Mona Lisa and other such art works that were held in museums
that belonged to public bodies are considered public property and cannot be otherwise.”

Why is the Mona Lisa so famous?

 Leonardo da Vinci used several unique and innovative techniques to paint the Mona Lisa. The
painting redefined the rules of contemporary art at the time and the method he employed has
become an integral part of today’s art school curriculum.
The technique (of not using lines or borders)
 One of the tools da Vinci created was the sfumato technique, which translates to ‘without lines
or borders, in the manner of smoke’. It was typical at the time for artists to form an outline,
whereas Da Vinci did not use outlines, but instead used different tones/shades of paint to create
the illusion of light and shadow.
 Starting with dark undertones, he built the illusion of three-dimensional features through layers
and layers of thin, semi-transparent glazes. He used darker shades to highlight features and
borders of the subject. The use of this technique caught the interest of the art circle in Paris and
was hailed as a groundbreaking innovation in painting.
 There were many other unique characteristics of the Mona Lisa that intrigued the art world and
viewers, such as the landscape (mountains and rivers) in the background. A portrait was usually
drawn with a background of open sky, a monotone background, or a room. The background was
also unusual due to the dimensions of the mountains.
 However, these small points of uniqueness are only recognized by people in the know or by
those who have studied the painting; this still doesn’t explain why everyone in the world seems
to wants to see it.

The Mona Lisa’s Smile

 One of the most popular reasons for the Mona Lisa’s global appeal is her smile. Da Vinci
exploited an optical illusion to create a unique smile through perspective and his use of shadow
work. Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa in such a way that the eyes of the Mona Lisa fall directly in
the center of vision of the viewer, while the lips fall just under the periphery of one’s vision. His
sfumato technique further ensured that the eyes and the lips were the most prominent
features.
 Whenever the viewer looks into the Mona Lisa’s eyes, the mouth falls into the peripheral vision,
so the features of the mouth are slightly less distinct; along with a little shading of the
cheekbones, this makes the mouth look like a smile.
 However, once the focus of the viewer lands on the smile, it slowly disappears, as if it were
never a smile to begin with. This is where the magic of Leonardo’s skill resides, and that’s what
made this legendary painting unique in comparison to other paintings of the time.

Interpretations of the Mona Lisa’s smile

 There are various interpretations to the smile; some say it’s a happy smile, some find it
deceptive, and still others feel that it is a sad smile. Apart from the very nature of the smile, it
has also led to many speculations as to who the subject was; in other words, whose face
inspired the most famous painting in history? The facial expression gives the painting an
enigmatic quality, leaving the viewer wondering what the model was thinking, who she was, and
why she seems happy to some and sad to others.

Hidden Secrets in the Mona Lisa

 There are rumors of hidden secrets and symbols within the painting. Academicians have
identified evidence of various (unknown) layers of pictures within the Mona Lisa. Scholars are
said to have identified at least four different paintings that may be varieties of the Mona Lisa,
 with several different people as the subject. Some claim that Da Vinci actually painted the Mona
Lisa in his likeness, as a female Da Vinci.
 Da Vinci was known to be an interesting character himself, in addition to being an inventor,
artist and scientist. In his heyday and under the patronage of Francois I, he managed to create
an aura of celebrity around himself. His fame rubbed off on the Mona Lisa, which was also
favored by Francois I, his patron.
 It is important to know that only 20 finished canvas paintings were done by Da Vinci during his
lifetime, further increasing the Mona Lisa’s rarity. The fact that it was stolen in the early days of
the 20th century added further to its fame.
 Artists like Duchamp, Dali and Warhol publicized the painting further through their own
reproductions. The painting has been used as an object for mass reproduction, merchandising,
lampooning and speculation, and has been reproduced in 300 different paintings and more than
2,000 advertisements.
 There are some other controversial stories as to who the subject of the painting is. The Mona
Lisa, was always displayed in a place of importance, even publicly displayed in the
Fontainebleau, Francois I’s favorite château in 1519. In 1800, the Mona Lisa was hung in
Napoleon’s bedroom, and in 4 years it was moved to the Louvre, which it still calls home.
 The Mona Lisa continues to be studied by artists and academicians to uncover the apparent
mystery that hands around her like a shroud. Its reputation as a carrier of symbols, secrets and
other unknown mysteries will surely keep the popularity of the Mona Lisa intact for a very long
time.

10 Facts You Might not Know about the Masterpiece

1. She lived with Francois I, Louis XIV and Napoleon
Although da Vinci began work on his masterpiece while living in his native Italy, he did not finish
it until he moved to France at King Francois I's request. The French king displayed the painting in his
Fontainebleau palace where it remained for a century. Louis XIV removed it to the grand Palace of
Versailles. At the outset of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte kept the painting in his boudoir.

2. Some historians believe Mona Lisa is a Self-Portrait of Leonardo da Vinci.

Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519, and he is buried at a French castle. Italy's National Committee
for Cultural Heritage is undertaking an investigation, and plans to dig up his skull. They want to rebuild
Leonardo's face, using CSI-style technology. Will he resemble the mysterious Mona Lisa?

3. She has her own room in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

After the Louvre launched a four-year, $6.3 million renovation in 2003, the painting now has its
own room. A glass ceiling lets in natural light, a shatter-proof glass display case maintains a controlled
temperature of 43 degrees F. and a little spotlight brings out the true colors of da Vinci's original paints.

4. It is a painting but not a canvas.

 Da Vinci's famous masterpiece is painted on a poplar plank. Considering he was accustomed to
painting larger works on wet plaster, a wood plank does not seem that outlandish. Canvas was available
to artists since the 14th century, but many Renaissance masters preferred wood as a basis for their small
artworks.

5. Jackie Kennedy invited her to visit.

Over the centuries, French officials have only rarely let the painting out of their sight. However,
when first lady Jackie Kennedy asked if the painting could visit the U.S., French President de Gaulle
agreed. "Mona Lisa" went on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and then at the
Metropolitan Museum of the Arts in New York City.

6. A thief made her famous.

Although in the art world, the painting had always been an acknowledged masterpiece, it wasn't
until it was stolen in the summer of 1911 that it would capture the attention of the general public.
Newspapers spread the story of the crime worldwide. When the painting finally returned to the Louvre
two years later, practically the whole world was cheering.

7. Picasso was under suspicion for the theft.

During the investigation, the gendarmes went so far as to question known art dissidents such as
Pablo Picasso about the theft. They briefly arrested poet Guillaume Apollinaire, who had once said the
painting should be burned. Their suspicions proved to be unfounded.

8. She receives fan mail.

Since the painting first arrived at the Louvre in 1815, "Mona Lisa" has received plenty of love
letters and flowers from admirers. She even has her own mailbox.

9. Not everyone is a fan.

Various vandals have tried to harm da Vinci's famed masterpiece, and 1956 was a particularly
bad year. In two separate attacks, one person threw acid at the painting, and another individual pelted it
with a rock. The damage is faint but still noticeable. The addition of bulletproof glass repelled
subsequent attacks with spray paint in 1974 and a coffee cup in 2009.

10. She cannot be bought or sold.

Truly priceless, the painting cannot be bought or sold according to French heritage law. As part
of the Louvre collection, "Mona Lisa" belongs to the public, and by popular agreement, their hearts
belong to her.

15 Facts About Leonardo Da Vinci's The Last Supper

 Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper is one of the most admired, most studied, and most
reproduced paintings the world has ever known. But no matter how many times you've seen it, we'll bet
you don't know these details.

1. IT'S BIGGER THAN YOU THINK.

Countless reproductions have been made in all sizes, but the original is about 15 feet by 29 feet.

2. THE LAST SUPPER CAPTURES A CLIMACTIC MOMENT.

Everyone knows the painting depicts Jesus's last meal with his apostles before he was captured
and crucified. But more specifically, Leonardo da Vinci wanted to capture the instant just after Jesus
reveals that one of his friends will betray him, complete with reactions of shock and rage from the
apostles. In Leonardo da Vinci's interpretation, the moment also takes place just before the birth of the
Eucharist, with Jesus reaching for the bread and a glass of wine that would be the key symbols of this
Christian sacrament.

3. YOU WON'T FIND IT IN A MUSEUM.

Although The Last Supper is easily one of the world’s most iconic paintings, its permanent home
is a convent in Milan, Italy. And moving it would be tricky, to say the least. Leonardo da Vinci painted the
religious work directly (and fittingly) on the dining hall wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie
back in 1495.

4. ALTHOUGH IT'S PAINTED ON A WALL, IT'S NOT A FRESCO.

Frescos were painted on wet plaster. But Leonardo da Vinci rejected this traditional technique
for several reasons. First off, he wanted to achieve a grander luminosity than the fresco method allowed
for. But the bigger problem with frescos—as Leonardo da Vinci saw it—was that they demanded the
painter rush to finish his work before the plaster dried.

5. LEONARDO DA VINCI USED A BRAND NEW TECHNIQUE ON HIS FUTURE MASTERPIECE.

In order to spend all the time he needed to perfect every detail, da Vinci invented his own
technique, using tempera paints on stone. He primed the wall with a material that he hoped would
accept the tempera and protect the paint against moisture.

6. VERY FEW OF LEONARDO DA VINCI'S ORIGINAL BRUSHSTROKES REMAIN.

 Although the painting itself was beloved, da Vinci's tempera-on-stone experiment was a failure.
By the early 16th century, the paint had started to flake and decay, and within 50 years, The Last Supper
was a ruin of its former glory. Early restoration attempts only made it worse.

Vibrations from Allied bombings during World War II further contributed to the painting's
destruction. Finally, in 1980, a 19-year restoration effort began. The Last Supper was ultimately restored,
but it lost much of its original paint along the way.

7. A HAMMER AND NAIL HELPED LEONARDO ACHIEVE THE ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE.

Part of what makes The Last Supper so striking is the perspective from which it's painted, which
seems to invite the viewer to step right into the dramatic scene. To achieve this illusion, Leonardo da
Vinci hammered a nail into the wall, then tied string to it to make marks that helped guide his hand in
creating the painting's angles.

8. RENOVATIONS ELIMINATED A PORTION OF THE LAST SUPPER.

In 1652, a doorway was added to the wall that holds the painting. Its construction meant that a
lower central chunk of the piece—which included Jesus' feet—was lost.

9. THE LAST SUPPER'S JUDAS MAY HAVE BEEN MODELED AFTER A REAL CRIMINAL.
It is said that the look of every apostle was based on a real-life model. When it came time to pick
the face for the traitorous Judas (fifth from the left, holding a bag of telltale silver), Leonardo da Vinci
searched the jails of Milan for the perfect-looking scoundrel.

10. THERE MAY BE A BIBLICAL EASTER EGG HERE.

To the right of Jesus, Thomas stands in profile, his finger pointing up in the air. Some speculate
that this gesture is meant to isolate Thomas's finger, which becomes key in a later Bible story when
Jesus rises from the dead. Thomas doubts his eyes, and so is entreated to probe Jesus' wounds with his
finger to help him believe.

11. THE MEANING OF ITS FOOD IS UP FOR DEBATE.

The spilled salt before Judas has been said to represent his betrayal, or alternately, is seen as a
sign of his bad luck in being the one chosen to betray. The fish served has similarly conflicted readings. If
it is meant to be eel, it might represent indoctrination and thereby faith in Jesus. However, if it's herring,
then it could symbolize a nonbeliever who denies religion.

12. IT'S INSPIRED SOME WILD THEORIES.

In The Templar Revelation, Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince propose that the figure to the left of
Jesus is not John, but Mary Magdalene, and that The Last Supper is key evidence in a cover-up of the
true identity of Christ by the Roman Catholic Church.

Musicians have speculated that the true hidden message in The Last Supper is actually an
accompanying soundtrack. In 2007, Italian musician Giovanni Maria Pala created 40 seconds of a somber
song using notes supposedly encoded within da Vinci's distinctive composition.
 Three years later, Vatican researcher Sabrina Sforza Galitzia translated the painting's
"mathematical and astrological" signs into a message from Leonardo da Vinci about the end of the
world. She claims The Last Supper predicts an apocalyptic flood that will sweep the globe from March 21
to November 1, 4006.

13. THE LAST SUPPER ALSO INSPIRED POPULAR FICTION.

And not just The Da Vinci Code. A pervasive part of the painting's mythology is the story that
Leonardo da Vinci searched for ages for the right model for his Judas. Once he found him, he realized it
was the same man who had once posed for him as Jesus. Sadly, years of hard-living and sin had ravaged
his once-angelic face. As compelling a story as this is, it's also totally false.

How do we know this story isn’t true? For one thing, it's believed that da Vinci took about three
years to paint The Last Supper, mostly due to the painter's notorious tendency to procrastinate. For
another, stories of spiritual decay manifesting itself physically have long existed. It's likely that someone
along the way decided to saddle The Last Supper with a similar narrative in order to give its moral
message a sense of historical credibility.

14. IT'S BEEN MIMICKED FOR CENTURIES.

Fine art and pop culture have paid tribute to The Last Supper with a cavalcade of imitations and
parodies. These range from a 16th century oil painting reproduction to new interpretations from
Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Susan Dorothea White, and Vik Muniz, who made his out of chocolate
syrup.

Recreations of The Last Supper's distinctive tableau can also be found in the Mel Brooks comedy
History of the World, Part 1, Paul Thomas Anderson's stoner-noir Inherent Vice, and Luis Buñuel's
Viridiana, which was declared "blasphemous" by the Vatican. It's also been a plot point in The Da Vinci
Code and Futurama.

15. WANT TO SEE THE LAST SUPPER IN PERSON? BETTER BOOK (WAY) IN ADVANCE.
Though The Last Supper is one of Italy's must-see sites, the convent in which it is located was
not built for big crowds. Only 20 to 25 people are allowed in at a time in visiting blocks of 15 minutes. It
is recommended visitors book tickets to see The Last Supper at least two months in advance. And be
sure to dress conservatively, or you may be turned away from the convent.
THE SUBJECT OF ART - is the matter to be described or to be portrayed by the artist. This may refer to
any person, object, scene or event.

Two Kinds of Art as to Subject:

1. Representational Art or Objective Art – They are those arts which depict (represent) objects
that are commonly recognized by most people. They attempt to copy, even if in a subjective
manner, something that's real. It uses “form” and is concerned with “what” is to be depicted in
the artwork.
2. Non-representational Art or Non-objective Art – They are those arts without any reference to
anything outside itself (without representation). It is nonobjective because it has no
recognizable objects. It is abstract in the sense that it doesn’t represent real objects in our
world. It uses “content” and is concerned with “how” the artwork is depicted.

Sources of Subject

Nature, History, Greek and Roman mythology, Judeo-Christian tradition, Sacred oriental texts, Other
works of art.

Kinds of Representational Subject

History, Mythology, Still life, Dreams and Fantasies, Animals, Landscape, Seascape, Cityscape, Figures,
Religion, Portrait, Everyday Life.

Methods of Presenting Art Subjects

1. Realism - it is a method of portraying an art subject according to the objective reality. It depicts
what the eyes can see, what the ear can hear, what the sense faculty may receive. Ex. Mona Lisa
2. Abstraction - In abstract art, the artist does not show the subject at all as an objectively reality,
but only his idea, or his feeling about it (exaggerated emotionalism). It is all about what the
artists feel and what mood they might want to portray. Abstract art is all shapes, no real-life
images, scenery, or objects.

Forms of Abstraction:

a. Distortion. This is clearly manifested when the subject is in misshapen condition, or the regular
shape is twisted out. It is a form of emphasizing detail to the point that something is no longer
“correctly” depicted. Ex. Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist
b. Elongation - It refers to that which is being lengthened, a protraction or an extension.
c. Mangling. This may not be a commonly used way of presenting an abstract subject, but there
are few artists who show subject or objects which are cut, lacerated, mutilated, torn, hacked or
disfigured.
d. Cubism - The Cubists tried to create a new way of seeing things in art. Many of their subjects, be
they people or landscapes, were represented as combinations of basic geometric shapes -
sometimes showing multiple viewpoints of a particular image. Cubist pictures are therefore
often described as looking like pieces of fractured glass.
e. Abstract Expressionism - was influenced by the Existentialist philosophy, which emphasized the
importance of the act of creating, not of the finished object. What matters for the artist are the
qualities of the paint itself and the act of painting itself.
3. SYMBOLISM. A symbol is a visible sign of something invisible such as an idea or quality.
Symbolism systematically uses symbols to concentrate or intensify meaning, making the work of
art more subjective (rather than objective) and conventional. For example, a flag is a symbol of a
country and it depicts the value of nationalism; a lion to represent courage and a lamb to
represent meekness. The logos and emblems of business firms and the coat of arms of bishops
are also examples of symbolism.
4. FAUVISM. It is derived from the French “les fauves,” which means “the wild beasts.” It is an
artistic movement of the last part of the 19th century which emphasized spontaneity and use of
extremely bright colors. To a fauvist, for example, a tree trunk need not be brown. It could be
bright red, purple or any other color.
5. DADAISM. The term “dada” is a French word, which means a “hobby-horse.” A hobby-horse is a
child’s toy consisting of a wooden horse mounted on a stick. With this etymology, we could say
that Dadaism is system of art which is per se “nonsensical.” Some would say it is not an art
because it strives to have no meaning at all.
6. FUTURISM - Futurism was presented as a modernist movement celebrating the technological,
future era. The car, the plane, the industrial town were representing the motion in modern life
and the technological triumph of man over nature.
7. SURREALISM. It is an offshoot or a child of dada. It is also known as “super realism,” which
revolves on the method of making ordinary things look extraordinary. It focuses on real things
found in the imagination or fantasy or it has realistic subjects that are found in the unconscious
mind; depicting dreamlike images of the inner mind.
SCOPE OF ART

The humanities is a many-faceted subject. It consists of the visual arts, literature, drama and theater,
music and dance.

1. The visual arts are those we perceive with our eyes.

They may be classified into two groups:

Graphic arts - two-dimensional surface.

This term covers any form of visual artistic representation especially painting, drawing, photography,
etc.

a. PAINTING: process of applying pigment to a surface effects involving forms and colors. The
painting mediums include: oils, watercolors, tempera, others. Surfaces: canvas, wood, paper and
plaster.
b. DRAWING: the art of representing something by lines made on a surface or the process of
portraying an object, scene, or forms of decorative or symbolic meaning through lines, shading,
and textures in one or more colors. The mediums are pencil, pen and ink, crayon, brush and
charcoal.
c. PHOTOGRAPHY: a chemical-mechanical process by which images are produced on sensitized
surfaces by action of light. Reproductions may be in black or white or in full colors of the
original.
d. MECHANICAL PROCESSES: Developed by commercial-mechanical process for rapid, large-
quantity reproduction of words and pictures in one or more colors.

Plastic arts - three-dimensional forms.

This group includes all fields of visual arts in which materials are organized into three-dimensional forms
like architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, sculpture crafts, industrial design, dress and
costume design, theater design, etc.

The Plastic Arts - All fields of the visual arts in which materials are organized into three-dimensional
forms.

 Architecture: The art of designing and constructing buildings and other types of structures. The
materials are stone, concrete, brick, wood, steel, glass, plaster. It is the “mother of the arts” – it
houses, serves as background for, or occurs in relation to other fields of art such as painting,
sculpture, interior design, landscape architecture and city planning.
 City Planning: Planning and arranging the physical aspects of a large or small community. The
structures and areas concerned with all phases of living and working are attractively and
efficiently organized and related.
 Interior Design: design and arrangement of architectural interiors for convenience and beauty.
It includes background (wall, floors, ceilings), furnishings and accessories. The fields: design of
wallpaper, furniture, textiles of curtains and upholstery.
 Sculpture: design and construction of three-dimensional forms representing natural objects or
imaginary (sometimes abstract) shapes. The common materials are stone, wood, clay, metal,
ivory, jade, wire, string, and other materials. The sculpture of figures is statues.
 Crafts: designing and making of objects by hand for use or for pleasure. The ceramics, jewelry,
leatherwork, and weaving. Mass-produced: industrial design.
 Industrial Design: design of objects for machine production. Examples: automobiles, household
appliances.
 Dress and Costume Designs: Design of wearing apparel of all types – dresses, coats, suits, shoes,
ties, etc.
 Theater Design: design of setting for dramatic productions.
 Landscape: an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view. A section or expanse of rural
scenery, usually extensive, that can be seen from a single viewpoint.
 Landscaping: is the development of outdoor space to provide various amenities – privacy,
comfort, beauty and ease of maintenance. It may involve lawns, shrubs, trees, plants and
flowers, structures such as seating, pools, rock gardens, trellises or pergolas, and paved
surfaces.

2. Literature is the art of combining spoken or written words and their meanings into forms which
have artistic and emotional appeal.
3. Music an art of arranging sounds in rhythmic succession generally in combination. Melody
results in this sequence and harmony from the combinations. It is a creative and performing art.
4. Drama and Theatre - A drama or play is a story re-created by actors on a stage in front of an
audience.
5. Dance involves the movement of the body and the feet in rhythm.
ART

1. The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form
such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or
emotional power.
2.  The various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance.
"the visual arts"

Why Is Art so Important to Mankind?

Art is a way of expression, a way of joy, a way of making people understand things which can’t be done
verbally. In fact, we can say that everything that is beautiful is art. Art provides mankind with a diverse
range of necessities and comforts.

Art is everywhere around us, and not just present in the museums and galleries. Art fills the creator, as
well as the admirer, with joy, as it provides us with inner calmness and happiness. Art doesn’t
discriminate between people and is equally special for the admirers of it.

10 Reasons Why Arts Are Important In Our Lives

1. Arts improves your creativity skills.

2. Arts gives you joy.

I smile whenever I sing my favorite song. Any kind of art can give you so much happiness.

3. Arts relieves stress.

Don't you go to another world when you just sing or listen to a favorite tune?

4. Arts gives you the opportunity to showcase your talent.

Even words don't give that much opportunity like art does. By showing our talent, we show that there is
something special about us.

5. Arts gives you confidence.

When I sing or perform, I feel so good about myself. I feel there are no worries, hence I perform
confidently.

6. Arts helps you do well academically.

Trust me, just a few hours of art will help you relieve stress and give you happiness. With that your mind
will be clear, and that would help you focus on your studies, and that would help you get good grades. If
you don't do art for few hours, your mind would be stressed and you wouldn't be able to focus and do
well.

7. Arts helps you to communicate with other people.

I connect with people through music. I have met most of my friends because of music.

8. Arts helps you learn visually

Thanks to art, I have become a visual learner. Learning Visually helped me a lot in studies.

9. Arts helps you to express your emotions

I use singing to showcase my emotions, whether I am happy, sad or angry.

10. Art is a different language

…. End topic ……

Vertical Lines: communicate strength, stability, and authority

Horizontal Lines: communicate calm, peace, and passiveness

Diagonal Lines: communicate movement, action, and drama

Shape: is two dimensional, it has height and width but has no depth. We can easily identify the shape of
most objects without having extra visual information.

Form: is a three-dimensional object. It has three dimensions – height, width, and depth. Forms usually
have weight and solidity. Sometimes they have a continuous surface like a ball or many surfaces like a
box.

An organic shape/form has rounded and soft edges and is a free flowing. Most organic form are derived
from natural objects and occur in nature.

ELEMENTS: Line, Shape, Form, Value, Color, Space, Texture

Shading: is used to replicate lightness and darkness and suggest that an object has form. Light can be
replicated several different ways. Tone can be darkened in a painting by adding black. In a drawing, tone
can be darkened by applying pressure to the pencil or changing to a darker medium.

Color: derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength) interacting in
the eye with the spectral sensitiveness of the light receptors. Color categories and physical specifications
of color are also associated with objects, materials, light sources, etc. based on their physical properties
such as light absorption, reflection, or emission spectra.

Color Wheel: is a circle divided into at least six sections and containing the three primary and three
secondary colors, this is the spectrum bent into a circle. Primary Colors: Red, Blue, Yellow. They cannot
be made. Secondary Colors: Purple, Orange, Green. Made by mixing the primaries.

Complimentary Colors: are opposite each other on the color wheel. When used together within an
artwork the make each other seem brighter and more dynamic. In Van Gogh’s painting “The Night Café”
the use of green and red next to each other creates a dynamic atmosphere.

Analogous: are colors which are near each other on the color wheel. When used together they create a
sense of harmony.

Monochromatic: is a scheme is when the artwork is made from one color altered using tints and shades
only.
There are three properties of color that can be defined and measured:

1. Hue: the name of the color itself, it refers to the position of the color in the spectrum
2. Value: refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. We change color value by adding black or
white (tint or shade).
3. Intensity: refers to the brightness of a color, we can change this by adding black, white or the
complementary color.

Neutral Colors: Black, White, and Grey are such because they do not fit on the color wheel or in the
color spectrum.

Colors are also considered to be cool and warm. The color wheel below shows the natural division of the
color wheel; however, this isn’t always accurate. Even though a blue may be considered a cool color
with the addition of red. The blue may become a warm blue or with the addition of green, becomes a
cool blue.

Space: refers to the three-dimensionality of sculpture and architecture. It also refers to the sense of
depth in a two-dimensional artwork.

Three-dimensional space (real); Two-dimensional space (illusion)

Positive Space: refers to the 3D object being viewed.

Negative Space: refers to the space around the object. Positive and Negative space is only relevant for
describing 3D form, for 2D artworks, then positive and negative shape is appropriate.

Texture:

Real Texture: when the texture can be felt and seen.

Implied Texture: simulated or invented texture.

PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

Visual Balance: is way that different elements of a composition relate to one another. The elements of
art – line, shape, texture, etc – work together to create balance within a composition.

The Three most important types of balance are:

1. Symmetrical Balance – when a design displays symmetrical balance it is exactly the same on
both sides. If you drew a line through the center of the design, one side would be the mirror
image of the other. Symmetrical balance is sometimes known as bilateral, two-sided, or a formal
balance.
2. Asymmetrical Balance – opposite of symmetrical lol
3. Radial Balance – if the parts of a design turn around a central point. Design based on radial
balance are somewhat similar to those that use symmetrical balance: they are generally orderly
and repetitious and one side may be much like the other.

Unity (Harmony): is achieved when the elements of an artwork work together as a whole. There are
many ways of achieving unity in a painting. These include repetition and creating dominance. In the
work below, unity is achieved through repetition of shapes.
Contrast: is a principle that is used in different ways in Art. The purpose of contrast is to create a
statement, to entice the viewer and to create attention. It is achieved through materials, line, shape,
form, and size, value, color, textures, time and style, ideas

The contrast between the organic shape and size of the reclining figure and the geometric tiles work
together in this Henri Matisse print.

In this photograph of Spanish Architect Antoni Gaudi’s house, the contrast between the organic form of
the walls of the building and the geometric, rigid panes of glass creates a unique architectural feature.

In this charcoal drawing, contrasting value helps to create an eerie setting, as well as focus the viewers
eyes on the top of the staircase.

In this Paul Gauguin painting, color contrast is established between the red hair of the subject and the
cool green of the waves.

In this photograph of the Louvre in Paris, the architects of this new glass pyramid at the entrance have
purposely established a contrast in time and style. This makes the visitors and viewers instantly
recognize the visual differences between the architectural features of the past and the present.

Emphasis: is when one element is emphasized over another in an artwork. This emphasis can be on line,
shape, texture, etc.

Rhythm: similar to rhythm in music and dance, visual rhythm is closely related to movement. When we
think of rhythm, we think of pattern and repetition. They are very similar and interconnected, though
each is also distinct from the others.

Repetition: refers to an element that repeats. It may be a shape, color, line, or even a subject that
occurs over and over again.

JUAN LUNA de San Pedro y

1. Born in the town of Badoc, Ilocos Norte in the northern PH.

2. He was the third among seven children of Don Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posadas and Doña
Laureana Novicio y Ancheta.
3. In 1861, the Luna family moved to Manila and he went to Ateneo Municipal de Manila where he
obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree.
4. He enrolled at Escuela Nautica de Manila (now PH Merchant Marine Academy). He took drawing
lessons under the illustrious painting teacher Lorenzo Guerrero of Ermita, Manila.
5. He also enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts (Academia de Dibujo y Pintura) in Manila where he
was influenced and taught how to draw by the Spanish artist Agustin Saez. Luna’s vigorous brush
strokes displeased his teacher and Luna was discharged from the Academy studies.
6. He entered the Escuela de Bellas Artes de San Fernandouela where he befriended the painter
Don Alejo Vera. Luna was discontented with the style of teaching in school and decided that it
would be much better to work with Vera.
7. It was in 1878 when his artistic talents was established with the opening of the first art
exposition in Madrid which was called the Exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes. From then on,
 Luna became engrossed in painting and produced a collection of paintings that he exhibited in
the 1881 Exposition.
8.