Guillermo
Tolentino..[ 1890 – 1976 ]
Cast
marble.
Sculpture:-
42cm high x 11cm wide x 18cm deep.
Base:-
18.5cm high x 10cm wide x17.5cm deep.
Signed,
“ RIZAL” and
“G.E.
TOLENTINO”
“1961”
The
Triumph of Death Over Life
Given to Dr. Blumentritt in 1890 in Brussels
Given to Dr. Blumentritt in 1890 in Brussels
“There were two sculptures
Rizal made for Dr Blumentritt in 1890. One is the Triumph(or Victory)
of Death over Life.
This
sculpture shows a beautiful naked woman collapsed in the arms of a
hooded skeleton.
Life is personified as a beautiful female and Death as a skeletal male.”
Life is personified as a beautiful female and Death as a skeletal male.”
Description.
This is an interesting
composition of the naked girl collapsed and really draped over the
skeleton.
Her head resting on the left
shoulder of the hooded skeleton and both arms hanging down her sides,
her right hand holding onto the arm of the skeleton. The skeleton is
holding her firmly and both skeletal hands can be clearly seen.
The girl is naked.
The skeleton is dressed in a
hooded long sleeve tunic.
His face is a skeleton and the
hollow eyes stare out into the distance.
Both the face of the girl and
the skeleton are clearly defined.
The fingers of both figures
are complete as are the toes of the girl.
The skeletons feet are shod in
boots
From the back it can be seen
that the hood on the head of the skeleton has a peak at the back that
hangs down and also a narrow cape which also falls from the
shoulders.
The hair of the girl hangs
down the back of the man.
The
skeleton is standing
on a rocky out crop and a Prickly
Pear Cactus
can
be seen growing on the left side. [
This cactus is not found in the Philippines but is found in southern
Spain.]
Distinguishing
marks.
Under the left boot at the
base of the rocky outcrop is the printed word, “RIZAL”
On the base underneath the lip
is a carved rope section, all around the base.
The front of the base has the
inscription, “ TRIUMPH OF DEATH OVER LIFE”
On the back of the base it
reads, “G.E.TOLENTINO
1961”
This sculpture was from the
original sculpture by Jose Rizal done in 1890 and then copied by
Tolentino in 1960.
Mark Shellshear
Independent Art Consultant.
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