The Philippines’ First Family Portrait

Property from a Contemporary Private Collection

The Philippines’ First Family Portrait

Premium Lot
Unique Mixed Media Artwork
Historical Interpretive Composition

UK: Private Studio Collection

Artist: Lili Marjorie H. Gualberto

Estimate

Not for sale / Unique artwork

Medium

Mixed Media on Canvas (Acrylic, Copper Mesh, Philippine Capiz Shells, 24 ct Gold Leaf)

Description

The Philippines’ First Family Portrait is a unique mixed media artwork by Lili Marjorie H. Gualberto. Conceived as an artistic interpretation, the work imagines a family portrait that history never recorded. As no known family portrait exists depicting the Philippine national hero Dr. José Rizal, his wife Josephine Bracken, and their son, Francisco, the artist presents a symbolic visual reconstruction inspired by historical narratives and artistic imagination.

The composition opens with a fluid turquoise background rendered in acrylic, evoking the shifting colours and movement of the Philippine ocean floor, transitioning from luminous aquamarine to deep teal. Suspended above these aquatic currents is a sculpted expanse of woven copper mesh, designed to resemble the distinctive columnar basalt formations of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This copper foundation pays tribute to Josephine Bracken’s Irish heritage, as both of her parents were born in Northern Ireland. The warm metallic structure contrasts with the cool tones beneath, symbolising her journey across continents to the Philippines.

Resting upon this foundation are three (3) Philippine Capiz shells of equal size, gilded in 24 ct gold leaf and serving as symbolic silhouettes of Dr. José Rizal, Josephine Bracken, and their infant son, Francisco, whose life lasted only a few hours. By bringing these elements together within a single composition, the artwork seeks to unite two island cultures and present a visual reflection on family, heritage, love, and loss. The work stands as an imaginative tribute to a family whose story is deeply woven into Philippine history, offering a portrait not preserved by photography or paint, but reimagined through contemporary artistic expression.

Dimensions

Unique mixed media artwork on canvas (one-of-a-kind)

Provenance

Private studio collection

Exhibition History

Newry Library, Northern Ireland

Note

This work is an artistic interpretation and should not be regarded as a historical portrait. It is a symbolic reconstruction created in response to the brief lived existence of the family unit, particularly acknowledging that their son, Francisco passed away only hours after birth. Through contemporary visual language and symbolic materials, the artist reimagines a moment of familial unity that existed in life, however briefly, and reflects upon themes of love, memory, and impermanence.