17th to early 20th century National Fine Arts Collection “Holy Family” (1953)

In celebration of the Christmas season, this week’s #ArtStrollSunday series focusing on the 17th to early 20th-century art from the National Fine Arts Collection features Federico Estrada’s sculpture entitled “Holy Family” (1953).

The “Holy Family,” created in 1953 by Federico Estrada (1915-1999), won the second prize in the 1953 Art Association of the Philippines Art Competition. Engraved in this block of narra wood are the faces of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and Jesus Christ.  The image of the Holy Family is a central theme in Christian art which symbolizes the Nativity or the birth of Jesus Christ. For Christians, the Nativity is the beginning of the Christmas season which celebrates the coming of Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation. 

This sculpture is featured in the recently launched exhibition at the National Museum of Fine Arts, Gallery XXIX, entitled “Lilok, Hulma, at Tipon.”

Federico D. Estrada was born on July 17, 1915, in Tondo, Manila. Estrada earned praises from his teachers at a young age because of his talent in drawing and mud sculpture. His talent also earned him a scholarship at the North American School of Drawing and a membership in its Art Club No. 95 as an award for winning in pencil sketching contest in 1928. He later studied at the UP School of Fine Arts but could only enroll from 1931-1932 because of a lack of funds. He then worked at the Manila Artistical Decoration Company as a sculptor designer from 1932-1938. There he met the Italian sculptor Pietro Amberti (died 1970). He learned the techniques of synthetic marble, floating strips, spray dotting, and general sculpting while working at Amberti’s atelier from 1932-1940. After the war in 1945, he worked as a senior artist at the U.S. Air Force. He participated in his first group exhibition in 1946 sponsored by the N.T.C. Art Club in Tanduay, Manila. From 1948-1950, he worked as an art director at the Movie Newsreel Magazine, as a chief artist at Bireley’s California Orange in Pasay, as a poster artist at Sampaguita Pictures, and as an art director at the Institute of Commercial Art. Some of his works won top prizes at the Art Association of the Philippines Art Competition from 1951-1953. One of these was the “Holy Family,” which won an award in 1953. 

In 1985, Estrada, who was a resident of Pasig, became the president of the Sining Kulturang Pasig. The following year, he founded the Portraitist Association of the Philippines, which mounted their first group exhibition entitled “Artist and Artist” at the National Museum. Some of his important works include the column statues in the San Agustin Church in Iloilo, the eagle casting and fountain project at the Manila Hotel, and the mural at the Municipal Building of Pasig. 

Estrada passed away on December 12, 1999, after suffering a cardiorespiratory arrest in his house in Pasig. 

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Text by NMP-FAD

Photo by Bengy Toda

© National Museum of the Philippines (2021)