By Hanah Tabios
The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) joins the nation in remembering the 159th birthday of the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
The copy of Dr. Jose Rizal’s “De la Imitacion de Cristo y Menorprecio del Mundo” (The Imitation of Christ), a prayer book by Thomas A. Kempis. The noteworthy object was given by Rizal to his wife Josephine Bracken after their marriage and right before he was sent to Bagumbayan for his execution by firing squad on December 30, 1896. (National Museum of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
The widely known polymath was born on June 19, 1861 in Calamba, Laguna and has acquired education both in Manila and Europe.
In a statement, the NMP said the institution recognizes Rizal’s artistic contribution through its exhibition “The National Hero in Art: Works by Jose Rizal, Portraits from the Collection of the National Museum” which features his highly valued works such as the Vista de Gendarmenmarkt en Berlin”, “La venganza de la madre” (The Mother’s Revenge), and “San Pablo el Ermitaño" from the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Among the featured artworks, Rizal’s “La venganza de la madre” (The Mother’s Revenge) was declared as a National Cultural Treasure in 2008. This was created in 1894 which depicts a terracotta sculpture of a mother dog trying to rescue her helpless pup from the bite of the crocodile. The National Museum said it is interpreted as an allegorical representation of Filipino patriots saving the defenseless countrymen during the Spanish occupation in the country.
The “Vista de Gendarmenmarkt en Berlin”, on the other hand, was acquired by the NMP through a generous donation of Aurora Ortega-Carlos in memory of her spouse, Pablo C. Carlos. The fine drawing showcases a view of a public square where the Schauspielhaus (Concert Hall), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) are located. This was made during Rizal’s sojourn in Berlin, Germany in 1886.
While “San Pablo el Ermitaño” is Rizal’s other terracotta sculpture created in 1893 which was dedicated to his Jesuit mentor Fr. Pablo Pastells, S.J. The artwork depicts St. Paul the Hermit or Paul of Thebes, known in Catholic history as the first Christian hermit.
Both “La venganza de la madre” and “San Pablo el Ermitaño” was sculpted by Rizal during his exile in Dapitan.
Apart from these notable works of the Filipino nationalist, the National Museum also features his copy of “De la Imitacion de Cristo y Menorprecio del Mundo” (The Imitation of Christ), a prayer book by Thomas A. Kempis. The noteworthy object was given by Rizal to his wife Josephine Bracken after their marriage and right before he was sent to Bagumbayan for his execution by firing squad on December 30, 1896.
The National Museum said the book was only being featured to the public on two occasions, including the time of his death anniversary for conservation reasons.
Meanwhile, despite the building’s closure due to COVID-19, the National Museum continues to remember his greatest contributions to the country by allotting a special gallery to honor him through the significant artworks of various Filipino artists at the Gallery 5 of the National Museum of Fine Arts.