Isabelo Tampinco. [ 1850 – 1933]
Title. “ Triune God ” …. original title unknown.
Sculpted and painted wood and ivory.
50cm high x 36cm wide x 20cm deep.
Circa 1870's
Signed center lower back “ ILT”.
Description.
This is a very early Tampinco sculpture in wood and painted, also the
hands, face and feet are ivory.
The sculpture shows God the Father seated with Jesus
sitting on His right, the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove can be
seen on the center of the back board.
The sculpture is carved from one piece of wood.
God the Father is seated and dressed in a white round necked tunic
with a blue robe covering his left shoulder.
He is holding a globe in His left hand and His right hand is held up
palm forward.
Jesus is also seated but does not have a tunic on and His robe is
brown and over His right shoulder. His right hand is held up but palm
faces inward.
Both characters have beards and long hair.
The faces, the hands and the feet are in ivory and quite detailed.
Both characters are seated on what seems to be a cloud resting on a
detailed base.
The backboard showing the Holy Spirit is relief carved and quite
ornate and painted gold on a blue/green background.
Signature.
The initials “ILT” can be seen on the center lower back of the
sculpture.
Comments.
This
sculpture is thought to be a quite early Tampinco piece,
maybe
from his apprenticeship years, 1870
to 1880,
because of the use of the ivory which was slowly fading out near the
end of the 19th
century. Also
the anatomy
is not quite up to the standard of his later sculptures.
This
is a very important work by Tampinco for exactly the reasons I gave
above, the ivory and the early creation of this piece and the subject
matter. He was to repeat this theme often but the important thing
about this piece is Christ is sitting beside God the Father, whereas
in most other renditions of this theme the Christ is portrayed
crucified.
This an import part of Philippine Art History and needs to be
preserved for future generations to behold.
Written by:-
Mark Shellshear.
Art consultant.
markshellshear@gmail.com
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