The National Museum, in pursuance of its mandate of preserving and protecting National Cultural Treasures and important cultural properties of the nation, maintains a reference collection on the visual arts through the Arts Division. This entire art collection constitutes a large portion of the artistic patrimony of the nation and one of our legacies to the coming generations. Now totaling 1,032, the collection is composed of easel paintings, sculptures, icons, sketches and mixed media, and span the 18th century to the late 21st century. All are inventoried, accounted for and certified by the Commission on Audit. However, there are artworks in the collection that are still undergoing accession proceedings. The Division undertakes and supervises the periodic inspection and maintenance under the supervision of an art conservator. The visual art collection of the National Museum serves as a perpetual chronicle of the development of Philippine art and a showcase of the achievements and aspirations of Filipino visual artists. One can also refer to the collection for topics ranging from Philippine history and natural landscapes to social concerns and personal expressions. The 15 artworks featured in this handbook were chosen as a representative sample of the best artworks created by unknown artists of the 18th century, 19th century masters, national artists for the visual arts as well as the leading contemporary painters and sculptors. The uniqueness of the style, the prestige of the artist, and the significance of the artwork in the development of Philippine art are the primary criteria in the selection.
