Damian Domingo: Primer Pintor Filipino

Summary

Damien Domingo, the pioneer of Philippine painting and art education, was the first director of the Royal Economic Society's art academy. His portrait skills were highly sought after by the elite, and he painted religious works for various orders. Domingo was revealed to be of Chinese descent, challenging previous assumptions. He championed racial equality, ensuring his academy admitted all qualified students regardless of background. His work, including religious paintings and portrait miniatures, set a high standard for Philippine art, and his advocacy for human rights was reflected in his art, depicting figures from all walks of life with dignity.

Takeaways

• 🎨 The first official art academy in the Philippines was opened in 1823 by the Royal Economic Society of the Friends of the Country.
• 🖌️ Damian Domingo is recognized as a pioneer in Philippine art, known as the father of Philippine painting and formal art instruction.
• 👨‍🎨 His portraiture skills were highly sought after by government officials and religious orders, leading to numerous commissions.
• 🏰 The initial perception of Domingo's heritage was that of a Spanish mestizo, but later discoveries confirmed his Chinese mestizo background.
• 📜 The discovery of Domingo's last will and testament in the National Archives revealed his Chinese mestizo identity, challenging previous assumptions.
• 👨‍✈️ Domingo was a member of the Battalion of the Royal Prince, a military organization composed of Chinese mestizos.
• 🎨 His marriage to Lucia Casas, from a prominent Chinese mestizo family, provided him with the financial resources to establish an art school.
• 👥 Domingo championed racial equality and integrated this principle into the academy's rules, ensuring admission was based on merit, not background.
• 🖼️ Domingo's artwork included religious paintings, portrait miniatures, and illustrated costume albums, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
• 🔍 The surviving works of Domingo are limited, but they demonstrate his mastery as a miniaturist with exquisite detail and vibrant colors.
• 🌟 As an artist, educator, and human rights advocate, Domingo's legacy is marked by his promotion of equality and the elevation of Philippine art.

Q & A

In what year did the Royal Economic Society of the Friends of the Country open the first official art academy in the Philippines?

The Royal Economic Society of the Friends of the Country opened the first official art academy in the Philippines in 1823.

Who was recognized as the father of Philippine painting and formal instruction in Philippine art?

Damien Domingo was recognized as not only the father of Philippine painting but also the father of formal instruction in Philippine art.

What was the significance of Damien Domingo's role as the first director of the art academy?

Damien Domingo's role as the first director of the art academy was significant because he was a renowned artist whose skills as a portraitist were sought after by government officials and religious orders, and he was instrumental in setting the standards and practices for art education in the Philippines.

What was the original perception of Damien Domingo's heritage based on early portraits and lore?

The original perception of Damien Domingo's heritage was that he was a Spanish mestizo or even a full-blooded Spaniard, based on early portraits and lore.

How was the misconception about Damien Domingo's heritage corrected?

The misconception about Damien Domingo's heritage was corrected when his last will and testament was discovered in the National Archives, which identified him as a Chinese mestizo.

What was the significance of the ivory portrait miniature of Damien Domingo?

The ivory portrait miniature of Damien Domingo was significant because it provided a more accurate depiction of his features, which were more Chinese, thus correcting the long-held assumptions about his heritage.

What was Damien Domingo's role in the Battalion of the Royal Prince?

Damien Domingo was a member of the Battalion of the Royal Prince, a military organization composed of Chinese mestizos, and this affiliation likely provided him with the financial resources to establish the art school in Hondo.

How did Damien Domingo's background influence his advocacy for racial equality?

Damien Domingo's background as a Chinese mestizo inspired him to champion racial equality, and he incorporated provisions in the Academy's rules and regulations to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background, would be admitted as long as they were qualified and met certain standards.

What was the collaboration between Damien Domingo and Daniel Baboon, and what was its outcome?

Damien Domingo collaborated with Daniel Baboon, a fabric trader of Armenian descent, to create illustrated albums of Filipino costumes. Domingo used Baboon's collection to produce 'types of the country', which were illustrated albums painted in watercolor and gouache, preserving the colorful costumes of the Filipinos for posterity.

What are the surviving examples of Damien Domingo's body of work?

The surviving examples of Damien Domingo's body of work include religious paintings, portrait miniatures, and three illustrated costume albums.

How did Damien Domingo's art and teachings influence the art scene in the Philippines during his time?

Damien Domingo's art and teachings set a high standard for the early 19th-century style and aesthetic in Philippine arts. His work as a brilliant miniaturist and his advocacy for equality in his art influenced his successors and those who studied under him, inspiring them to emulate the quality of his work.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Founding of the First Art Academy in the Philippines

In 1823, the Royal Economic Society of the Friends of the Country established the first official art academy in the Philippines, marking a significant milestone in the history of Philippine art. The academy was led by Damien Domingo, who is recognized as the father of Philippine painting and formal art instruction. Domingo's exceptional portraiture skills were highly sought after by government officials and religious orders, who commissioned him to paint portraits of saints and founders. Despite the scarcity of primary sources, information about Domingo's life was pieced together from surviving artworks and a biographical article. It was long believed that Domingo had Spanish heritage, but this was challenged when his will revealed his Chinese mestizo background. This discovery reshaped the understanding of his identity and his contributions to the art community.

05:01

🖌️ Pioneering Artist and Art Educator

Damien Domingo's appointment as the first director of the art academy was a testament to his artistic prowess. He was a visionary who advocated for racial equality and inclusivity, ensuring that the academy admitted students from all backgrounds, provided they were qualified and met certain standards. Domingo's collaboration with Daniel Baboon, a fabric trader of Armenian descent, led to the creation of illustrated albums that captured the vibrant costumes of Filipinos. Domingo's mastery as a portraitist was evident in his self-portrait and the numerous commissioned works he produced for government officials and religious orders. His paintings, including religious themes and portraits, showcased his attention to detail and use of color. Despite his death in 1834, Domingo's legacy lived on through his surviving works and the art education he provided, influencing future generations of artists.

10:02

🌟 Equality and Vision in Art

Damien Domingo's art was not only a reflection of the past but also a revolutionary vision that portrayed the mestizo and Indio with equal dignity and radiance. His paintings depicted figures from all walks of life without distinction, showcasing his belief in equality. Domingo's work gathered diverse figures on a single canvas, emphasizing their shared humanity and dignity. His artistic vision and advocacy for human rights made him an era-defining artist and a pioneer in Philippine art education. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the art world, highlighting his unmatched contribution to posterity.

Keywords

💡Royal Economic Society

The Royal Economic Society was an organization that played a pivotal role in the establishment of the first official art academy in the Philippines. It signifies the societal and economic support for the arts during that era. In the script, it is mentioned that this society invited Damien Domingo to be the first director of their 'Academia,' highlighting its influence in shaping the formal art education landscape in the country.

💡Damien Domingo

Damien Domingo is a central figure in the script, recognized as the father of Philippine painting and formal art instruction. His name is synonymous with the inception of the art academy and his influence on the art scene is profound. The script describes his portraitist skills, which were highly sought after by government officials and religious orders, and his role in the military organization, indicating his multifaceted contributions to society and art.

💡Formal Art Instruction

Formal art instruction refers to the structured and organized teaching of art, which was formalized through the academy established by the Royal Economic Society. The script emphasizes the importance of this institution in培养 the artists of the time, including Domingo himself, and setting the standard for future art education in the Philippines.

💡Portraitist

A portraitist is an artist who specializes in creating portraits, typically of individuals. In the context of the script, Damien Domingo's skills as a portraitist were highly valued, as evidenced by the commissions he received from government officials and religious orders. His work in this area contributed significantly to his reputation and the historical record of the period.

💡Self-Portrait Miniature

A self-portrait miniature is a small, detailed self-portrait, often painted on ivory. The script mentions that the only image of Dominguez's face for many years was a copy of his self-portrait miniature, which was preserved within his family. This artwork is significant as it is one of the few surviving examples of Dominguez's work and provides a visual representation of the artist.

💡Mestizo

Mestizo refers to a person of mixed heritage, typically of mixed European and indigenous or Asian ancestry. The script reveals a significant discovery about Damien Domingo's heritage, which was previously believed to be Spanish but was later found to be Chinese mestizo. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to his identity and the narrative of his life and work.

💡Academia

In the script, 'Academia' refers to the official art academy established by the Royal Economic Society. It was a pioneering institution for art education in the Philippines, led by Damien Domingo as its first director. The term signifies the formalization and professionalization of art education during that period.

💡Racial Equality

Racial equality is the principle that all individuals should have equal rights and opportunities, regardless of their racial or ethnic background. The script highlights Damien Domingo's advocacy for racial equality through the rules he established for the art academy, which required the admission of all qualified individuals, irrespective of their background.

💡Costume Albums

Costume albums refer to illustrated collections of traditional attire and costumes. In the script, it is mentioned that Domingo collaborated with Daniel Baboon to create illustrated albums of Filipino costumes, preserving the cultural heritage and diversity of the country's attire through his artistic skills.

💡Religious Paintings

Religious paintings are artworks that depict religious themes, figures, or narratives. The script discusses several religious paintings by Domingo, including 'The Apotheosis of Saint Thomas Aquinas' and 'The Holy Family,' which were commissioned by religious orders. These works not only showcase Domingo's artistic talent but also reflect the religious and cultural context of the time.

💡Miniaturist

A miniaturist is an artist who specializes in creating small, detailed paintings, often on a very small scale. The script describes Domingo as a brilliant miniaturist, as evidenced by the exquisite detail and vibrant colors in his surviving works. His skill in this area is a testament to his artistic prowess and the high standards he set for Philippine art.

Highlights

In 1823, the Royal Economic Society of the Friends of the Country opened the first official art academy in the Philippines.

Damien Domingo is recognized as the father of Philippine painting and formal instruction in Philippine art.

Domingo was invited to be the first director of the Royal Economic Society's academia due to his renowned skills as a portraitist.

His portraits were sought after by government officials and prominent members of society, as well as religious orders for paintings of patron saints and founders.

For years, the only known image of Dominguez was a copy of his self-portrait by his son, Jose Domingo Gabor.

The discovery of Domingo's last will and testament revealed him to be of Chinese mestizo heritage, contrary to previous assumptions of Spanish descent.

Domingo's self-portrait miniature, when discovered, showed features more indicative of Chinese heritage.

Domingo was born in 1796 in Dondon, a bustling business district, and was a member of the battalion of the Royal Prince, a military organization.

His marriage to Lucia Casas provided the financial resources to establish the art school in Hondo.

Domingo championed racial equality and implemented inclusive admission policies at the Academy.

He collaborated with Daniel Baboon, an Armenian businessman, to create illustrated albums of Filipino costumes.

Domingo was a master portraitist and one of the earliest known Filipinos to paint a self-portrait.

His works were often commissioned by Spanish officials as mementos, and later by religious orders for significant paintings.

Domingo's last religious painting, 'The Holy Family,' depicted an extended family in the Filipino tradition.

His surviving works include a handful of religious paintings, portrait miniatures, and illustrated costume albums.

Domingo's art and teachings set a high standard for early 19th-century Philippine art and aesthetics.

He was a brilliant miniaturist, as evidenced by the exquisite detail and brilliant colors in his surviving works.

Domingo was an era-defining artist, a pioneering art educator, and an advocate of human rights.

His art portrayed a vision of equality, with figures from all walks of life depicted with dignity and radiance.

Domingo's legacy is that of a unifying artist who stood above the rest, gathering figures from diverse backgrounds on a single canvas.

Transcripts

in 1823

the royal economic Society of the

Friends of the country opened the first

official art academy in the Philippines

through this school the artists became

known as not only the father of

philippine painting but the father of

formal instruction in philippine art as

well this painters name was Damien

Domingo

such was Damien Dominguez renowned as an

artist that the royal economic society

invited him to be the first director of

their academia his skills as a

portraitist were sought after by

government officials and other prominent

members of society religious orders

commissioned him to paint their patron

saints and founders we know damn young

from a handful of surviving artworks and

an 1894 biographical article in

lifestyle film Filipina however or the

lack of primary sources many assumptions

about Damien Dominguez life and family

history had to be based on lore and

conjecture for years the only image we

had of Dominguez face was that painted

by his son Jose Domingo Gabor copied

from the artists original self portrait

miniature the copy was preserved because

it stayed with the ampion and Domingo

families from the time it was made in

the 19th century it never went it was

not sold or never went to anybody else

the miniature I've reported us known to

exist but it was missing so it became

the stuff of legend in Jose's portrait

Dominguez features seemed to suggest

Caucasian heritage later portraits such

as those purportedly drawn by Jose Rizal

and by the painters grandson Francisco

Domingo made him look even more Spanish

based on these portraits and sketchy

information the Mian Domingo was widely

believed to be a Spanish mestizo

or even a full-blooded Spaniard

these assumptions were turned on their

head when Domingo was discovered to be a

Chinese mestizo I discovered this last

will and testament in the National

Archives 18 years ago he says that in

his last way that I am Miss P so native

of fondo at that time I used a mestizo

you don't miss - miss miss oh you mean

Chinese miss visa without qualification

when also the ivory portrait

self-portrait miniature surface actually

in that portrait you can see that the

neon Dominguez features are more Chinese

I think his son is Spanish ice little

bit because you can see the difference

in the two it makes such a big

difference to find out that the Mian

Domingo is a family you know it puts

everything in a different perspective we

think of him as very much part of that

community and he strives to have the

school up to be an active part of his

little military band you know in

Bernardo all of that becomes more real

when we see what what community he comes

from the Mayan Domingo was born in 1796

in dondo at that time a teeming business

district he was also a member of the

battalion of the Royal Prince a military

organization which honored the Spanish

Prince at the time the battalion of the

Royal Prince was composed of Chinese

mestizos organized to fight against the

british invasion then later on against

the Morrow's in the south

the commanding officer of the mingoes

regiment was don ambrosial Casas

patriarch of an esteemed chinese mestizo

family but a success of banana don

ambrosial would eventually become the

artists father-in-law and a second

father figure

you know Lucia Casas of Bernardo whose

father was the head of the Grammy or the

mestizos the song lay in Bernardo I also

think that his marriage gave him the

financial resources to establish the art

school in Hondo Dominguez background

inspired him the champion racial

equality and the Academy's practices he

added his own provisions to the

Academy's rules and regulations for him

to be the first director the first will

be not sodomy is a great achievement but

that is why he specified in the statute

of the the Academy that that everybody

has to be admitted in in the hardened me

regardless of their background whether

Titus mestizo Hispanics or enjoy they're

all they have to be accepted as long as

they are qualified and as long as they

they come on time as long as they are

dressed decently

while teaching at the academy Domingo

became acquainted with a member of the

royal economic society daniel baboon a

businessman of Armenian descent had come

to the Philippines from Calcutta India

baboon was a fabric trader who developed

an interest and the colorful costumes of

the Filipinos having amassed a large

collection of Filipino costumes he was

looking for an artist to preserve them

for posterity

baboon found the perfect collaborator in

the Mian Domingo based on baboons

collection Domingo produced people sell

bags or types of the country illustrated

albums painted in water color and

gouache it made it come alive that they

were fishermen that they were people who

were selling water there were people who

were bartering cloth and doing various

things as a portraitist

Domingo was considered a master in his

own time he was one of the earliest

known Filipinos to have painted a

self-portrait

among the government officials who

commissioned him were Pasquale angrily

yells edo governor-general of the

philippines from 1830 to 1835 and jose

maria been Aranda executive secretary

the governor-general glove area a lot of

the works he made were for people who

were not permanent residents of the

Philippines for example the ivory

miniatures which were portraits no were

usually commissioned by Spanish

officials as mementos of the time they

served in the Philippines and they would

take this back with them to Spain

Domingo was also commissioned by the

religious orders in the country for the

Dominicans he painted the apotheosis of

Saint Thomas Aquinas one of the great

Saints of their order and Our Lady of

the Most Holy Rosary with saints Dominic

and Catherine receiving the Rosary from

the Madonna and Child for the

Augustinians the chair of st. Peter in

Rome depicted st. Augustine the founder

of their order alongside Saint Ambrose

guarding the symbol of the papacy

Domingos last religious painting the

Holy Family showed an extended family in

the Filipino tradition along with

Jesus's earthly parents Mary and Joseph

the artists included Mary's parents

Saints yo Kim and Anna as well as God

the Father and the Holy Spirit for

religious paintings a handful of

portrait miniatures three Illustrated

costume albums today

these are the only surviving examples of

the mingoes

body of work

we are not sure how prolific Domingo was

though going by the types of portraits

he painted I'm sure he was much sort

sought after by officials and prominent

personalities in in Manila and around

the country in those days the man

Domingo died on the 26th of July 1834 he

was survived by his wife Lucia Casas and

eight of their children two of them

severa Domingo and Jose Domingo Gabor

would go on to be painters themselves as

an artist Tommy and Domingo also

established a I think a very high

standard of a and brought that early

19th century style and aesthetic to to

philippine arts he was a brilliant

miniaturist as can be seen by surviving

works really exquisite detail brilliant

colors perhaps many of his successors

for those who studied under him and who

were inspired by him really sought to

emulate the quality of his work Domingo

was an era defining artist a pioneering

art educator and an advocate of human

rights

he not only rendered life from a century

passed but recast it in revolutionary

light in his art the mestizo and Indio

stands side by side the bank era no less

dignified

then the principal del pueblo de air are

no less radiant but the mist ISA in her

vestido de gala beyond skill with a

brush it is these visions of equality

that prove the artists matchless nest

posterity

the man who gathered on a single canvas

figures from all walks of life one next

to the other without distinction is the

man who stands above the rest

the Mian Domingo premiere Indore

Filipino