Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo were two famous Filipino painters known for their historical and landscape paintings respectively. Luna is renowned for works like Spoliarium and Blood Compact which depicted important historical events and drew attention to the struggles of the Filipino people under Spanish rule. Amorsolo is renowned for his idyllic landscape paintings featuring rural Philippine scenes and maidens, making use of impressionistic techniques and lighting. Both artists made significant contributions to the development of Philippine art and identity.

1. Change how you see instead of what you see
From 1 Corinthians: A 35-Day Devotional
Read1 Corinthians 7:17-24
In a world full of Photoshop and instant gratification, it’s easy to buy the lie that if we don’t like something, we can and
should change it.
If we don’t like our physical appearance, there’s a surgery to fix it. If we don’t like our relationship status, there is a dating
service to change it. If we don’t like our circumstances, we can buy, charm, run, and fight our way out of it.
But what if the circumstances we’re in are exactly where God wants us to be?
What if the circumstances we’re in are exactly where God wants us to be?
We are called to live the life we are given. Each one of us has unique value, insight, and experience God wants to work
through to share the good news about Jesus. Our lives were not meant to be a comparison party where we attempt to
constantly gain or achieve other people’s stuff and circumstances.
When we are being who God made us to be in the circumstances, He has given us, people can look at our lives and ask:
“How does she have so much peace in the midst of _____?” or “How can he be so generous when he has so little?”
When we find ourselves in less than desirable circumstances and prayer doesn’t seem to be changing them, maybe we need
to change our prayer. Instead of focusing on finding a way out, ask for a change of perspective about the situation we’re in.
Then, watch and see how God works through our struggle for our strength and His glory.

2. Discovering Philippine

3. What we’ll discuss:
Works of Antonio Luna & Fernando Amorsolo
Topic 1 --------- Life of Juan Luna
Topic 2 --------- Works of Juan Luna
Topic 3 --------- Life of Fernando
Amorsolo
Topic 4 --------- Works of Fernando
Amorsolo

4. HISTORICAL PAINTINGS - are visual
representations of concrete happenings on the life
of people in a specific period. The idea about
certain events and people is communicated or
expressed aesthetically through art with form,
technique, and style. Essentially, these paintings
are instrumental to the visualization of the reality
which stands equally with texts, photos,
caricatures, and films.

5. Life of Juan Luna
JUAN LUNA (1857-1899) –Juan Luna y Novicio, a
famous painter, sculptor and political activist was born on
October 23, 1857. He was famous for his masterpieces
such as Spoliarium, and The Parisian life. The Battle of
Lepanto and Blood Compact.
-is best known for impressive rendition of classical subjects
in his academic works. This works include historical scenes
and portraiture, however subsequently he turned to realism
depicting social inequalities. The “SPOLIARIUM” and “
THE PARISIAN LIFE” are Luna’s paintings presented for
the analysis of the students.

6. 1861
• The Luna family moved to Manila and he went to Ateneo Municipal Manila
where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree.
• He enrolled at Escuela Nautica de Manila (now Philippine Merchant Marine
Academy)
• He took drawing lessons under the illustrious painting teacher Lorenzo
Guerrero of Ermita, Manila.
• 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.

7. 1877 – when Juan Luna traveled to spain.
1895, he obtained his certificate as a pilot at age17.
1886, Luna married Maria de Paz Pardo de Tavera. They had a son
named Andres and a daughter who died in infancy.
1892, jealous Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law, leaving his brother-
in-law wounded. He was arrested and murder charges were filed.
1893, he was acquitted of murder charges on grounds of temporary
insanity. Later on he went to Madrid, Spain.
1891, he returned and was captured in Philippines. Imprisoned at Fort
Santiago.
1899, Juan Luna died due to a heart attack

8. 1883-1884
• 1883 Luna started the painting demanded of him by the Ayuntamiento.
• In May 1884, he shipped the large canvas of the Spoliarium to Madrid for
the years exposicion Nacional de Bellas Artes. He was the first recipient of
the three gold medals awarded in the exhibition and Luna gained
recognition among the connoisseurs and art critics present.
• June 25, 1884, Filipino and Spanish nobles organized on event celebrating
Luna's win in the exhibition. That evening, Rizal prepared a speech for his
friend, addressing the two significant things of his work, which included the
glorification of genius and the grandeur of his artistic skills.

9. 1861
• The Luna family moved to Manila and he went to Ateneo Municipal
Manila where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree.
• He enrolled at Escuela Nautica de Manila (now Philippine Merchant
Marine Academy)
• He took drawing lessons under the illustrious painting teacher
Lorenzo Guerrero of Ermita, Manila.
• 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.

10. “Death of
Cleopatra”
Works of Juan Luna
The Death of Cleopatra, which was
painted at a time when there was a
rise in national consciousness, not
only represented a colonial people
resisting their colonizer but also
highlighted the superiority of Filipino
painters, particularly Luna himself,
over their European peers.
Luna’ s first artwork is called “Death of
Cleopatra” he painted his art piece in
year 1881 and he was awarded a
silver medal at the Exposicion Nacional
de Bellas Artes.

11. Works of Juan Luna
"Spoliarium"
Luna was able to draw
attention to the struggles
endured by the Filipino people
during Spanish domination with
this work. In Spoliarium,
defeated gladiators are shown
being dragged onto a heap of
other dead bodies in the arena.
He earned the gold medal in 1884
at the Exposición Nacional de
Bellas Artes for his enormous and
mesmerizing "Spolarium."

12. This is the most valuable oil- on-
canvass painting with a size of
4.22 meters x 7.675 meters,
making it the largest painting in
the Philippines. It won First Gold
Medal in 1884 as an entry to the
prestigious Exposicion de Bellas
Artes in Madrid.

13. Works of Juan Luna
“Blood Compact"
When Luna was given a pensionado-
ship that allowed him to continue his
painting studies in Rome, he was
required to create The Blood Compact
for the Ayuntamiento de Manila.
One year after relocating to Paris to
establish an art studio, Luna finished The
Blood Compact with assistance from
José Rizal and Trinidad H. Pardo de
Tavera. The painting is now on display at
the Malacaan Palace's great staircase as
of the time of this post.
He painted this in year 1886 It depicts the 1565
Sandugo (blood compact rite) between Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna of Bohol,
who were joined by other conquistadors.The
artwork was awarded first place in 1904 in both
Paris, France and the St. Louis Exposition in the
United States.It is on display at the moment in
Malacang Palace.

14. The Battle of Lepanto (Spanish: La
Batalla de Lepanto)
is a painting by Filipino painter and revolutionary
activist Juan Luna. Along with Félix Resurrección Hidalgo,
Luna is one of the first Filipinos to excel and earn
recognition in the international field
of arts and culture.Painted by Luna in 1887, the
masterpiece is about the Battle of Lepanto of October 7,
1571. The painting features Don Juan of Austria (also
known as Don John of Austria) in battle while at the bow
of a ship. It is one of the “huge epic canvasses” painted by
Luna (the others are the Spoliarium and The Blood
Compact).The painting is also known as The Battle of
Lepanto of 1571.

15. Life of Fernand Amorsolo
also known: Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto; May 30, 1892 – April 24,
1972) was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes.
Nicknamed the "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art,"he was the first-
ever to be recognized as a National Artist of the Philippines”. He
was recognized as such for his "pioneering use of impressionistic
technique" as well as his skill in the use of lighting and backlighting
in his paintings, "significant not only in the development of
Philippine art but also in the formation of Filipino notions of self
and identity.
- Delights people of his impressionistic technique depicting idyllic
country scenes, beautiful maidens, and colorfully dressed peasants
planting or harvesting rice. The “ ANTIPOLO FIESTA” and “
PALAY MAIDEN ” paintings are presented for analysis.

16. Life of Fernando Amorsolo
• When he graduate in year 1914 he began his career as commercial
artist
• 3 years later he grew tired and he moved to madrid then he enrolled
at Escuela de Fernando
• After 7 months Fernando visit New York and it was there that he first
across the works of post-war impressionists and cubists, which had a
strong and lasting impact on his sense of aesthetics and his artistic
approach. He created his own private studio upon his return to
Manila.
• 1939, his iconic painting, ‘Afternoon Meal of the Workers’
was awarded the 1st prize at the New York Worlds’ Fair.

17. Works of Fernando Amorsolo
“Dalagang Bukid"
The first National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo, is praised for imbuing the
public psyche with an idyllic and romanticized view of the Philippines.
The dalagang bukid, or Philippine provincial lass, is widely regarded
as the maestro's most iconic subject matter. Amorsolo's bright and
colorful pastoral representations are distinctive for being suffused with
a golden glow, reflecting the sweet disposition, charm, and wholesome
beauty of the subject. She is the embodiment of all that is admirable
about the motherland, surrounded by lush vegetation that is dappled
with sunlight. She is the image of a long-forgotten, bygone past. Atang
de la Rama, a National Artist, made famous the song "May isang
dalagang nagsalok ng tubig Kinis ng ganda nya'y hubog sa nilatik,"
which is referenced by the young woman's banga, or clay jar, which is
a receptacle for holding water and is viewed as a symbol of fragility
and innocence.

18. Works of Fernando Amorsolo
“The Lavanderas"
One of national artist Fernando Amorsolo's most well-
known works depicts a woman and her pals washing the
day's laundry while sitting by the river, with one of them
winsomely taking a bath. The background trees and water
stream are primarily depicted in green tones, highlighting
the grandeur of the Philippines' natural surroundings.
Amorsolo is renowned for his skillful use of light, which he
displays by accentuating the skin of the main subject and
the front torso of the subject. Although doing laundry is
frequently thought of as a mundane duty, Amorsolo depicts
it as a necessary activity that interacts with life's cycle, a
time of joy, companionship, cleansing, and rebirth, which
gives this rich canvas a tangible romance.

19. ANTIPOLO FIESTA
This oil painting on canvas depicts a rural scene
where a group of people are shown celebrating
a fiesta in Antipolo. The main focus is on a pair
of dancers in the field surrounded by revelers
both young and old. Abundant food is
presented in basketful of assorted fruits on the
benches and on the ground, as well as the
traditional roasted pig or lechon being prepared
by two men. Nearby is a house with huge
windows from where dwellers watch the
revelers. At the background is a huge church, a
symbolic town structure. A vast number of
townsmen complete the essence of a fiesta.
It can be said that the pair of dancers are in the usual same
pose as those of dancers in Fernando Amorsolo’s various
well-known tinikling-related paintings. A viewer may be
quick to surmise at a glance that this painting belongs to
that category, as the bamboo handlers in the
usual tinikling dance often blend in the crowd and are not
easily distinguished. However, there are no bamboo-
handlers present in this painting simply because the
dancers are not performing the tinikling dance. Thus, this
indication is what makes this painting very unique.

20. Works of Fernando Amorsolo
“The Bathers"
After the war Amorsolo resumed
painting idyllic scenes decipting the
countryside. In 1953, he created The
Bathers , which is representative of one
of Amorsolo’s favorite themes: maiden
in the water

21. PALAY MAIDEN
This painting portrays a provincial Filipina beauty or dalagang bukid
during a rice harvest and dressed in and developed by the colors of the
Philippine flag.
Oil on canvas
Palay is Tagalog for grain, which is symbolic of the Philippines’ most staple
crop. Maiden bears significance to Amorsolo’s preference for beauty.
Throughout his pieces showing women, Amorsolo does not conform to a
Western standard of beauty; rather, he portrayed them to have:rounded
face, not of the oval type often presented to us in newspapers and
magazine illustrations. The eyes should be exceptionally lively, not the
dreamy, sleepy type that characterizes the Mongolian. The nose should be
of the blunt form but firm and strongly marked. … So the ideal Filipina
beauty should not necessarily be white complexioned, nor of the dark
brown color of the typical Malayan, but of the clear skin or fresh colored
type which we often witness when we met a blushing girl.

22. Thank You
for
listening!

23. References
Reading History for Students
What Makes the Past
Important
By Dana Blakemoor
By Chrissy Malpert