Damian Domingo: Primer Pintor Filipino
Summary
TLDRDamien 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
🎨 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.
🖌️ 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.
🌟 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Royal Economic Society
💡Damien Domingo
💡Formal Art Instruction
💡Portraitist
💡Self-Portrait Miniature
💡Mestizo
💡Academia
💡Racial Equality
💡Costume Albums
💡Religious Paintings
💡Miniaturist
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
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