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November 23, 2024


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Huling Paalam (1960)
Rody Herrera's Nationalistic Legacy
by: Christiane L. de la Paz

July 204--Influenced by Fernando Amorsolo’s use of impressionistic brushstrokes and Botong Francisco’s carefully modelled form, color and movement, Rody Herrera’s historical sensibilities commenced when he did the cover of The Philippine Collegian on November 1946 wherein he depicted two long-barreled guns, two helmets slung across, a skull, gnarled tree arched over the three central symbols, light from the top on the weapons, the shadow they cast and beneath, the words, Only the brave shall make them/only the immortal claim them. He was eighteen at that time.

 


Rody Herrera taken on October 22, 1949


Rody's marriage to Virginia Liwanag, July 20, 1949


Rody Herrera's New Year's Day Photo, January 1, 1950





Rody and his wife, Virginia


Rody with his wife, daughter Rovi and granddaughter, January 16, 2004

Dramatic and romantic content characterized the central themes of Herrera’s mature works which led him to paint historical themes combing history books and seeking out surviving kins of historical figures to reconstruct significant events in history. Gabriela Silang Being Led to the Gallows, The Discovery of the Katipunan, The Battle of Manila Bay, The Battle of Imus and The Verdict, among several others were his important works. In 1951, along with Juvenal Sanso, he merited attention when he won second prize in the conservative category of the Art Association of the Philippines for his painting, Andamyo. Pugad Lawin (1963) and Kakang Pule (1964) were his two other winning works at the Bonifacio and Mabini and Centenary Art Competitions.



Mark Anthony and Cleopatra


Kristianisasyon


Singkil


Postcards of National Heroes Painted by Herrera


Profile Portraits of Marcelo del Pilar and Melchora Aquino for postcards



Gabriela Silang Being Led to the Gallows


No Room for Joseph, Mary and Jesus


Sabungero


Ati-Atihan


Sa Batis


Tapos na Maligo


Modelo


In 1967, Herrera’s design of vignette for the ten peso bill was adjudged winner at the nationwide contest sponsored by the Central Bank of the Philippines.





 

He held his first one-man exhibition at Gallery One in 1972 showing portraits, religious and still life paintings.




Anointing of Jesus


Thou Who Had Not SIn


Virgin Mary


Christ Walking on Water


Woman at the Well (1985)

Born Rodolfo Herrera on January 16, 1925 in Sta. Mesa, Manila, Rody was the fourth of six children of Jose Herrera, head of Ilang-Ilang magazine and Felisa Matignas, a housewife. At five years old, he was fond of drawing on the ground or anywhere. During his high school years, his drawings were always on the front page of their school newspaper. He was in fourth year high school when war broke out. The Japanese officers whom he met and befriended sought him for portraits as souvenirs to their families which saved him from being recruited to join the labor battalion. Same thing happened to him when the American came as they too wanted their portraits to be drawn.
In 1946, an announcement of scholarship appeared in the newspaper. He applied and joined the three day competition. Hapily, Herrera emerged as one of the ten scholars chosen among the one hundred and fifty applicants granted a scholarship by Don Ramon Roces.


Rody Herrera in the middle performing a public Demonstration, October 1952


Rody Herrera a Freshman at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts




Nude Sketching at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts

 
University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts 1946



Rody Herrera Painting at Hillside Brook, Baguio City, February 29, 1950


After studying at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts in 1948, he served as art director of Liwayway Publications, Inc. while working as illustrator and cover artist for Ilang-Ilang and Liwayway from 1948-1964. The training and experience he got from being an illustrator gave him great knowledge to be a leading figurative artist. It sharpened his mind in human anatomy and improved his watercolour skills. The turning point of his career was when he won the grand prize at the International Art Contest on Jose Rizal for his painting, Huling Paalam, a farewell scene between Rizal and his mother.


Rody posing as a leading man to use for Liwayway magazine's front cover, January 1950


Rody working at the Ramon Roces Publication, February 18, 1952


Rody posing as a model for magazine illustration, March 9, 1959


Rody at the Ramon Roces Publication Office, 1961



In 1975, he opened his first art class, Rody Herrera Art Lesson at the PCI Bank Building in Green Hills catering to dilettantes. Herrera died of heart attack on July 30, 2009.


GROUP SHOWS


1966    Capitol Art Gallery
1973    Gallery One
1982    International Mall VV Soliven Towers
1986     Kawilihan Art Gallery
1989    Hotel Nikko
1991    Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center
1991    Philippine  American Life
1991    Tokyo International Art Show
1991    Lopez Museum
1992    Ayala Museum
1994    Don Bosco
1996    Quezon City Hall Exhibit
1997    Manila Hotel
1997    GSIS Exhibit


Rody Herrera's colleagues at the Ramon Roces Publication, 1950


Annual Art Awards, 1963


Induction of Officers at the Society of Pilipino Illustrator and Cartoonist

MEMBERSHIP

1950    Art Association of the Philippines (AAP)
1959    Society of Pilipino Illustrator and Cartoonist (SPIC) Director
1975 – 1977    Midtown Lions Club; Director
1962 – 1993    Philippine Association of Figurative Artists (PAFA) Director
1990    Visual Arts Cooperative (VACOOP)
1991     Watercolor Association of the Philippines (WAP) Director
1993    National Society of Filipino Artists I, (NASFA), Founder and President

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Have been exhibiting since 1950
Han a one-man show (1972 at Gallery One)
Holder of 32 major awards, both national and international, six of which are centennial awards
Owner of the “Rody Herrera Art LEsson”, an art school








SOURCE: Ana Viray, Rody Herrera's niece