Saturday, October 5, 2013

National Art Gallery at the National Museum

I am no art expert, I am just an art gawker. When in Manila, a visit to the National Art Gallery at the National Museum is a must for art lovers. 

P Burgos Drive, Rizal Park, Manila
Tuesdays to Sundays 10AM-5PM

Entrance Fee:
Adults Php 150
Senior Citizens Php 120
Students Php 50
Free admission on Sundays

The entrance fee gives access to the following:
National Art Gallery
Planetarium

Taking photos is allowed but no flash photography, commercial photography, videography, and tripods.

 


The National Art Gallery is housed in a grand old building that was originally designed to be a public library, then transformed into the Legislative Building. It was only in 2003 that the building was renovated to become the National Art Gallery.

There are eleven galleries in the National Art Gallery exhibiting the works of Juan Luna, Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, Jose Rizal, and Fernando Amorsolo, among others. Regrettably, I only had time to see to see one gallery and I chose to spend my very limited time in the Hall of the Masters.

In awe of Spoliarium

Two works of art that have been declared as National Cultural Treasures can be found in the Hall of the Masters: Juan Luna's Spoliarium and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo's La Tragedia de Gubernador Bustamante. Juan Luna's Spoliarium received a gold medal in the 1884 Madrid Exposition.

I know the Spoliarium is big, but I did not expect it to be that big. 4 meters by 7 meters! I just stood back, opened my eyes as wide as I could, and tried to take it all in. How I wish I had the whole day to spend at the National Art Gallery, but for the few minutes I had, I am glad to have spent it being dwarfed by Juan Luna's Spoliarium.



The National Museum:
National Art Gallery (you're here!)
Museum of the Filipino People

12 comments:

  1. Spoliarium is huge! How many hours did you spend on your visit? I have low tolerance for art galleries (probably because I'm an engineer) but I'm planning to visit the National Museum this month.

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    1. Hi David. I just spent 10 minutes in the there and did not get to see the other galleries... I spent most of my time in the Museum of the Filipino People. I hope you enjoy your visit at the National Museum. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  2. Didn't know we can take pictures inside the gallery!

    I think free admission nga pala sa National Museum this month, will plan to go on a weekend!

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    1. Yup, you can now take photos in the Art Gallery (just don't use flash). And you're right, free admission for the month of October for all National Museum branches around the Philippines :)

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  3. mm Mustachio, you should have given your real name when you got nominated. Fred and I and a lot of other people would have voted for you. Best travel blog in Cebu!

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    1. Thanks Jo-Ann and Fred! Blush man sad ta :D Bitaw, it means a lot to me (drama!) to hear that from you :) Thanks again!

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    2. You are so mysterious man gud...as in super mysterious. Ayaw palabi oi! hahahahaha bitaw, it's your choice and I respect that. Cool!

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    3. "Mysterious" kunohay, sa tinuoray snob diay to! :D

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  4. This is just in time for our visit to Manila this weekend. A visit to the National Museum wins over the Mind Museum. Just can't swallow the high entrance fee of the latter. A free entrance fee is just a wonderful treat for the whole family! :-)

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    1. Enjoy your visit to the National Museum :-) If you haven't been to an interactive science museum, you would probably find the Mind Museum interesting.

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  5. Where was I gani when you guys were here? :)

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    1. This was mid-May...asa ka naglaag that month? ;-)

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