Binalonan, Pangasinan

Second Semester, A.Y. 2021-2022

Name: Rommel C. Vinluan

Course and Year: BSA III-A

ASSESSMENT NO. 1
Investigating Art
INSTRUCTIONS: Using the internet, find a work of art to answer the following questions. The artwork (painting, drawing, photograph,
sculpture, architectural work, film, literary work, songs, dance, etc.) can be from any culture or time period. Provide the title, date and
artist’s name. Make sure your source has all of this information. Then attach a photo of your chosen artwork in the box below. Kindly
indicate the reference (link/bibliography).

1. a. Title: LAS VIRGENES CRISTIANAS EXPUESTAS AL POPULACHO/ The Christian Virgins Exposed to the Populace
b. Date or Year: 1884
c. Artist: Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
2. What medium is used (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photograph or digital image, video, installation or performance)?

-The artist used as a medium of his artwork is painting made out of oil on canvas.
3. What does it represent? What colors are used?
Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho is the most famous painting by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo. It has various names such
as The Christian Virgins Presented to the Populace, The Christian Virgins Being Exposed to the Populace and The Christian Virgins
Exposed to the Rabble among others. The painting depicts a scene in Ancient Rome where Christians are being persecuted. Two
female slaves are seen in the painting. They are scantily clothed and are being mocked by the various Roman men standing near
them. The painting has been described as a masterpiece because of the quality of Hidalgo’s work, the composition of the painting and
the historical context that is used. This painting had been regarded as one of the national treasures of the Philippines. The original
painting no longer exists as it was destroyed in a fire at the University of Valladolid in Spain. However, a copy of the painting is
displayed in an art collection at the Central Bank of the Philippines.
Colors: Brown, White, Pink, Black, Gray, and Red (oil on canvas)
4. What category does it fall under (craft, fine arts, or pop culture?
This Artwork falls under fine arts since it is for intellectual purposes and judged its beauty and meaningfulness.
5. For you, what artistic function does it present? Does it take on more than one function? Explain briefly your answer. (Review the
different functions discussed in Module 1 to help you decide.)
I think, the function of the artwork maybe grief and healing, remembering and mark-making, and culture and togetherness because of
depicting the persecution of Christians in Ancient Rome and one of the women is posed seated naked at the foreground of the painting
with her "head bowed in misery”. The semi-nude women have been stripped not only of their garments but also of their dignity.
According to Raquel A.G. Reyes, Hidalgo's winning the silver medal for the painting was a landmark achievement that proved the
ability of Filipinos to match the work of Spaniards and laid claim to Filipino participation in European culture.

Reference:

A. (2020b, November 30). 10 most famous by filipino artists. N/a. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://learnodo-

newtonic.com/famous-filipino-paintings

Las Virgenes Cristianas Expuestas al Populacho. (2021, November 21). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 31, 2022, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Virgenes_Cristianas_Expuestas_al_Populacho#Description