The Fine Arts

Native and foreign influences have combined to create a blend of many cultural overlays in the fine arts of the Philippines. Only a few fragments of pre-colonial painting and sculpture have survived because most of the early artifacts were made of wood and were thus destroyed by the elements over the centuries. After Spaniards arrived in the 16th century, the principal efforts of local artists were devoted to the production of religious art. In the late 18th century, painters turned to executing portraits, which were in demand form the rising middle class. Damian Domingo founded the first art school in the islands in about 1820.

By the late 19th century, Filipino artists were achieving an international reputation. Juan Luna was noted for his historical and allegorical works. Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo painted bold landscapes and seascapes. Fabian de la Rosa was renowned for his genre paintings. In the early 20th century a number of Filipino painters were attracted by the art movement known as impressionism, and one artist, Fernando Amorsolo, became the most prominent Philippine artist of the time. The artists of the mid-20th century have also been highly regarded. The most celebrated of them, Victorio C. Edades, Galo B. Ocampo, and Carlos V. Francisco, were known as the Triumvirate.

Other fine arts, including sculpture, pottery, and weaving had distinguished traditions dating from the precolonial era. Brightly colored garments decorated with intricate designs, along with artistic shields and weapons, have characterized native Philippine craftsmanship from the earliest times to the present.

Knowledge of pre-Spanish architecture is largely derived from current structures which follow earlier models. Simple rooms built on four rooted tree stumps offered protection from weather, landslides, animals, and enemies. Spanish rule naturally brought new techniques and styles, including the division of buildings into separate functional areas.

The Spaniards also introduced the use of mortar and masonry, decorative grilles for windows, and roof tiles. Roman Catholic missionaries promoted the construction of monumental cathedrals and universities. A good example of the latter is Manila's University of Santo Tomas, founded by Dominicans in 1611, predating Harvard University by a quarter of a century. The Spanish also introduced city planning, which featured large central plazas and buildings arranged according to their use. The layout of small cities and towns all over the Philippines reflects these early colonial plans.

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