READINGS IN PHILIPPINE

HISTORY
Module2: Analyzing the Significance of Primary Sources
to the History of the Filipino People.
Section 4
The Works of Juan Luna and Fernando Cueto Amorsolo
WHAT: The Works of Luna and Amorsolo
WHEN: Luna (1857-1899) & Amorsolo (1892-1972)
WHERE: Juan Luna; Badoc, Ilocos Norte and Fernando Cueto Amorsolo; Calle
Heran . in Paco, Manila, popularly known as Pedeo Gil.
WHO: Juan Luna (1857-1899) and Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (1892-1972)

Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo are two important

artists in the history of visual arts in the Philippines. Their
artworks illustrate important points in Philippine history.
This section focuses on the life of these two artists and their
most important works.
 Juan Luna de San Pedro y Click icon to add picture
Novicio Ancheta (1857-1899)
*Juan Luna was born on October 23, 1857 in Badoc, Ilocos Norte. He
was third among the seven children of Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y
Posadas (from Zambales) and Laureana Novicio y Ancheta (from La
Union).

*He married Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera and had two children.
He was granted the title Licentiate Pilot for High Seas after passing
the government examination for sailors.

*He was also a member of the Hong Kong Revolutionary Committee

(Hong Kong Junta) that tried to convince Emilio Aguinaldo during his
exile in Hong Kong to return to the Philippines and take part in the
armed rebellion against the Spaniards.

*Many Filipino middle class families had the chance to study not only
in the Philippines but in Europe as well, allowing them to be exposed
to new ideas and ideologies. It was during this time that Juan Luna
became famous for his artistic works.
 Historical Background of Luna's Paintings

• Many of Luna's paintings illustrate literary and historical

scenes that carried political commentaries.
 SPOLARIUM
The most important work of
Luna is the Spolarium, the
largest painting in the
Philippines (4.22 m x 7.67 m).
Luna spent eight months
working on the painting which
is now displayed in the main
gallery of the National Museum
of Fine Arts. It won three gold
medals in the 1884 Exposición
Nacional de Bellas Artes in
Madrid.
 THE BATTLE
OF LEPANTO
Another work of Luna, won the
gold medal in the 1888
Exposición Nacional de Bellas
Artes in Madrid, Jose Rizal
delivered a congratulatory
speech for the success of Juan
Luna.
Aside from his award-winning paintings, Juan Luna is also renowned for the following remarkable works:
(1) the El Pacto de Sangre which shows the blood compact between Datu Sikatuna and
Miguel Lopez de Legazpi; (2) the Parisian
Life
which shows a lady sitting
uncomfortably in a couch in a public bar while
being discretely observed by three men who, according to public
interpretations, resemble Jose Rizal, Juan Luna, and
Dr. Ariston Lin-Bautista; and
(3) the Portrait of a Lady which was first titled Paz
Pardo de Tavera, after the wife of Luna which shows a
woman holding a rosary in a scene that seems to be after
a sexual interlude. However, the lady in the painting
does not look like Juan Luna's wife at all. Some critics
suppose that it resembles the image of Luna's favorite
model, a Caucasian named Angela Duche while others
believe the lady is an image of Luna's idealised vision of
his wife. This particular painting is controversial for it
contains no foreshadowing to the tragedy of Luna's
marriage which ended with him shooting his wife in
September of 1892.
WHY: Why did Juan Luna became a painter ?
Luna was discontented with the style of teaching in school and decided that it would be
much better to work with Vera. Vera brought him to Rome for some of his commissions, and
Luna was exposed to the art of the Renaissance painters.
 Click icon to add picture
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo
(1892-1972)
* Fernando Amorsolo was born in Calle Heran (popularly
known today as Pedro Gil) in Paco, Manila on May 20,
1892. He studied at the Art School of the Liceo de Manila
and at the University of the Philippines' School of Fine Arts.
* He worked as draftsman for the Bureau of Public Works,
as a Chief Artist at the Public Commercial Company, and as
a part time instructor in the University of the Philippines.
Amorsolo painted and sketched more
than 10,000 pieces over his lifetime
using natural and backlighting
techniques, which gave him
numerous awards and recognitions.
The themes of his paintings are
mostly rural Philippine landscapes.

Two of Amorsolo's award-wining works are;

(1) the Leyendo El Periodico which won second
place in the Bazaar Escolta in 1908 and
(2) the Afternoon Meal of Rice Workers which
won first prize at the New York World's Fair in
1939, Other works of Amorsolo include the
Making of the Philippine Flag, The First
Baptism in the Philippineswhich was based
on the account of Pigafetta, and Under the
Mango Tree.

* On April 24, 1972, Amorsolo died from

heart failure. In the same year, Amorsolo
was declared the first National Artist of the
Philippines in painting. He is also considered
as the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art."
WHY: Why did Juan Luna became a painter ?
The family lived in Daet until the death of his father. At that time his mother
moved the family to the home of her cousin, artist Don Fabian dela Rosa in
Manila. Amorsolo was 13 years old at the time and in order to help provide for
his family, he sold his drawings and began to study art under dela Rosa.
 Historical Background of Amorsolo's
Paintings
* Amorsolo's paintings depict life during the late American regime and the
Japanese occupation in the Philippines. He was known for his works
focusing on rural landscapes that show his mastery in the use of light.
* Amorsolo's significant paintings during the Japanese occupation depict
wartime atrocities particularly the suffering of the Filipinos under the
Japanese authorities.
* Some of Amorsolo's works presenting such scenes are the Bombing of The
Intendencia, the Bombing of the Legislative Building, the Rape of Manila, and
the Burning of Sto. Domingo, all produced in 1942; Rizal Avenue in Ruins
and Defense of a Filipino Woman's Honor in 1945; and the Burning of Manila
in 1946.
1. What is the full name of Juan Luna?
2. It's the most important works of Juan Luna and considered as the largest
painting in the Philippines?
3. Juan Luna spent how many months completing the painting?

4. True or False
Juan Luan was born on October 24, 1857?

5. True or False
Juan Luna was third among the seven children of Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y
Posadas and Laureana Novicio y Ancheta
6. He is officially recognized as the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art”?

7. Amorsolo painted and sketched more than how many pieces over
his life time using natural and backlighting techniques which gave
him numerous awards and recognition?

8. True of false
Fernando Amorsolo was born on May 20, 1892?

9 and 10. Name the 2 of Amorsolo's award winning works.