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Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio and
Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo y Padilla were the
first Filipino painters to gain international recognition during the latter part of
the 19th century. The two artists found stimulation and inspiration in the intellectual
climate of Europe. They were the contemporaries of many literary and artistic Filipinos
who found in Europe a world of creativity and freedom, in contrast to the stifling
atmosphere of Philippine colonial life. These two masters, however, were not Filipino
painters in the strict sense of the word. Their art, both in content and style, was
European and clearly reflected their Castilian and Western education.
Deeply and particularly influenced by the French Academicians of the 19th century,
Luna and Hidalgo show a predilection for subjects of epic proportions, executed in the
"grand manner", as exemplified by the former's Spoliarium (at the National Museum) and
the latter's El Asesinato del Gobernador Bustamante.
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The traveling group of Filipino artists and friends posed for a photo
during their sojourn to Rome where Pedro Paterno provided the artists with a studio. Fron row:
(left to right) Miguel Zaragoza, Felix R. Hidalgo, Pedro Paterno and Juan Luna. Back row: J. Benliurre, J. Puerto, and M. Benlliure.
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Today the great value of Luna and Hidalgo paintings lie in their historical import.
Artistically, they were left behind by the Impressionist movement which swept away the
last traces of the Classical and Romantic schools. While both painters show touches of
Impressionism in their work, they never fully understood the implications of the new
style. The fact remains, however, that the artistic prominence of these two artists
among their Western colleagues constituted a distinct boost to the cause of the
Philippine propaganda movement.
The honors heaped upon them, the prizes won by their paintings in competition with European works gave lie to the colonial Spanish assertion that Filipinos were an inferior race.
The Filipinos of their generation found in Luna's and Hidalgo's artistic achievements a confirmation of their belief in their worth as a people.
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Lopez Memorial Museum » Feature Article: The Role of Luna and Hidalgo in Philippine History
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