March 22, 2019: National Museum of Fine Arts (Part 1)

One hot day in March, we were done with lunch and thinking of something else to do. Since we were already in the area, we decided to troop to the National Museum of Fine Arts located in Padre Burgos Avenue, Manila.

It was already 3 in the afternoon, so we had merely 2 hours to explore this massive gallery which is housed in a neoclassical style edifice and used to be called the Old Legislative building because it was where Congress and the Senate held their offices in our glorious distant past.

There is NO entrance fee. You need to deposit your bags/umbrellas (it was a very hot day) in the package counter. You can bring your phone/camera but cannot use the flash feature. I had to also leave my small portable fan because the guard told me "Ma'am, malamig naman po sa loob" which translates to "Ma'am, it is cold inside". I had no choice even though these days I am hardly without it, because I sweat a lot. he he he

We left our parents (they get tired easily) seated in front of the main attraction of the museum - the Spoliarium - the masterpiece by Juan Luna. The largest painting in the Philippines is a sight to behold. His very graphic and realistic depiction of the dying gladiators is very impressive. No wonder, it won the gold medal at the Madrid Exposition in 1884. I like that it is the very first art work one sees upon entering the National Museum. There are also a few benches in front of it so you can sit down and reflect on its beauty. It was my first time to see it in all its grandeur and we took several minutes just admiring it before we moved on to the other exhibits.

Across Luna's masterpiece is another large painting named "The Assassination of Governor Bustamante"  by Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo.  The painting shows Governor Bustamante being dragged down the stairs by Dominican friars as the palace guards tried to prevent them from hurting the Governor. Given the controversy of the incident (friars killing a Governor!) depicted in the painting, it was hidden by Hidalgo in Barcelona, where he lived for several years. It was only brought back to Manila, a year after his death in 1913 by one of his relatives. The characters in the painting are vivid; their garments and the staircase steps are very detailed - the disturbing nature of the violence really coming across to any spectator.