The Philippines in the 19th Century
Presented by the
Gallery of Prints
Ambassadors – as Guests of Honour – from several European countries whose voyagers visited Philippine shores in times passed, opened
A Sales Exhibition of 19th Century Art in Print at the SM Megamall Art Center
on Wednesday, April 16th 1997.
The Exhibit runs till Monday, April 28th with almost 200 antique prints and more than 20 antique books, as a prologue to the forthcoming book launch with the same subject in the Centennial Year 1998. This is the first time ever that a Sales Exhibit of such a large amount of original antique prints and books with a fully illustrated catalogue has been shown in the Philippines.
The exhibit showcases original art work by German, French, British., Dutch, Spanish and other European artists and printmakers who accompanied navigators, explorers, and scientists or simply travelled to feature the beauty and the peculiarities of foreign lands. Equally, Philippine-made original prints are featured.
The Gallery of Prints is the first gallery in the Philippines to sell exclusively antique prints. Each original shown – which is of value both as an antique art piece as well as a historical Filipiniana document – was matted and framed to museum-quality archival standards in its own frame-shop.
Aside from individual prints, equally rare and highly sought-after books, such as the first edition of Fr. Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas, and magazines about the Philippines, like La Semana , published during that time, will be for sale. Together, the printed art reflects not only a fascinating picture of Philippine towns and landscapes, its people, their interests and customs, its flora and fauna but also its struggle with their colonisers.
For the first time in the Philippines, a full-colour 16-page catalogue accompanying this exhibition and featuring some of the most beautiful pieces will be offered.
Exhibit Period: 16 April – 28 April 1997