By THEPHILBIZNEWS STAFF
His name may not ring a bell to many, but his valuable contributions to both medallic and numismatic art in the Philippines must not be undermined. Hence, Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Cultural Center in the country is presenting a lecture on Melecio Figueroa.
Figueroa was a pioneering Filipino artist, renowned for his profound contributions to both country’s medallic and numismatic art. Heritage Preservation advocate and researcher Gerard Wassily Y. Clavecillas will discuss Figueroa’s significance in history on June 27 at the Makati branch of Instituto Cervantes, at 5:30 p.m.
Melecio Figueroa (1842-1903) was a celebrated and highly decorated scholar of the Spanish artistic tradition, an alumnus of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando (Madrid), and a long established bastion and incubator of European creative potential. He was appointed the Chief Engraver of the Manila Mint and was, without a doubt, the Islands’ foremost medallic artist. Becoming a founding father later in life, he was one of the signatories of the first constitution in Asia. Undoubtedly, he was one of the most important Filipino Masters of the 19th century. Tragically, however, compared to his more famous peers, namely Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, his legacy has since been relegated to mere historical footnotes, his hard won contributions; forgotten and sadly ignored.
In this lecture, Filipino antiquarian, researcher Gerard Wassily Y. Clavecillas, will discuss Figueroa’s remarkable artistic career. The conference will feature a presentation exploring Figueroa’s life, art and enduring influence.
The lecture is open to scholars, students, artists, collectors, and anyone with an interest in art history and Filipino culture. Attendees are encouraged to register early through this link: https://forms.office.com/e/D0EHesF1NH
This event is organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines, with the support of PTC-Philippine Transmarine Carriers. Admission is on a FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED basis. For more information about this event, visit Instituto Cervantes’ website (http://manila.cervantes.es) or its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila