Gallery XIII (Vicente and Carmen Fabella Hall)
Gallery XIII, at the third floor of the National Museum of Fine Arts, features works by National Artist for Sculpture (1976) Napoleon Veloso Abueva (1930-2018) and a monumental painting by National Artist for Painting (1973) Carlos V. “Botong” Francisco (1912 – 1969).
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Gallery entrance
The Manila Pavilion Reliefs are two large molave wood panels Abueva made with the assistance of Renato Rocha (1937-2001) and Jose Mendoza (born 1941) portraying Rajah Sulayman, His Court and Palisades of Maynilad (1967), and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the Founding of Manila (1967).
Rajah Sulayman, His Court and Palisades of Maynilad (molave wood, 1961)
Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and the Founding of Manila (molave wood, 1967)
Other Abueva works on display include Family (wood, 1952), Mother and Child (adobe, 1950), Resurrection (XIV Station, 1989), Torso (adobe, 1952); Kiss of Judas (oak wood, 1955), a gift of Mr. Patrick Eugenio; and Kaganapan (Fulfilment, 1953), a bronze cast of the original marble sculpture.
Family (wood, 1952)
Kaganapan (Fulfilment, 1955)
Mounted at one side of the gallery is monumental, 1968 oil on canvas painting of Carlos V. “Botong” Francisco called Timbulan ng Laya at Diwang Dakila (Beacon of Freedom and Nobility of Spirit), a National Cultural Treasure (1996).
Kiss of Judas (wood, 1955)
Resurrection (XIV Station, 1989)
The fourth painting in the series The Filipino Struggles Through History (or History of Manila), consisting of three panels, was commissioned by Mayor Antonio J. Villegas for the end wall of the main hall (Bulwagan Katipunan) of the Office of the Manila Mayor at the Manila City Hall.
Torso (adobe, 1951)
Mother and Child (1950), sculpted from adobe (volcanic tuff), shows an abstract figure of a woman embracing a child in a sitting position. The child clings to the head of his mother.
It depicts Mayor Villegas’ progressive vision for the City of Manila grounded on a proud past of Filipino leadership and the fervent nationalism that he vigorously promoted and is well remembered for.
Timbulan ng Laya at Diwang Dakila (Carlos V. Francisco)
Gallery XIII: Vicente and Carmen Fabella Hall, 3/F, National Museum of Fine Arts (NMFA), Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita, Manila 1000, Metro Manila. Tel: (632) 8527-1215 and (632) 8298-1100. Email: inquiry@nationalmuseum.gov.ph. Website: nationalmuseum.gov.ph. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 AM – 4PM. Admission is free. Coordinates: 14°35′13″N 120°58′52″E.
Visitors shall be limited to 100 per museum per session. Visitors are required to pre-book online at https://reservation.nationalmuseum.gov at least a day before the visit. Confirmation of booking will be sent through email. Group reservations are limited to five (5) persons only. Walk-in visitors will NOT be accommodated.