“Greatest teacher of painting in the University of Santo Thomas.” — Prof. Mariano Madarang, First Director of the Philippine Women’s University

                                    ASST. PROF. WENCESLAO SICAT GARCIA

Wenceslao Sicat Garcia (September 28, 1915 – March 1979) was a Filipino painter. He was an award winning artist, who earned an honorable mention on “Communal Cooperation” at the second KALIBAPI National Art Competition in 1944. and the third prize for “Peasant’s Daughter” at the Art Association of the Philippines art competition in 1951.

Biography

Wenceslao Sicat Garcia was born on September 28, 1915 in Bacolor, Pampanga. He studied at the University of the Philippines (U.P) in 1928 where he learned a lot of techniques from well-known Filipino painters like Fernando Amorsolo and Pablo Amorsolo. He graduated from U.P in 1933, along with more noted modernists like Anita Magsaysay-Ho. He began to work as a Professor at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts from 1948 – 1974. He earned a complement from Prof. Mariano Madarang (first director of the Philippine Women’s University) as the “greatest teacher of painting in the University of Santo Thomas,” because of his discipline, dedication, and systematic lessons. The portrait of his wife is a proof of his superior painting procedure. He set forth the image of his wife in vigorous brushwork along the impressionist impasto technique, although he was affiliated with the conservative tradition. He also painted a portrait of his mother, Segunda Sicat Garcia. He was a proficient painter of contemporary urban scenes rather than the rural genres that dominated the American period. He also became the president of Art Association of the Philippines during his lifetime.

Photo:

                                       Wenceslao when he graduated from U.P in 1933

Awards

• Honorable mention for Communal Cooperation at the second KALIBAPI National Art Competition in 1944
• 3rd prize for Peasant’s Daughter at the Art Association of the Philippines art competition in 1951

Collections

• Approach to Jones Bridge – 1939
• Segunda Sicat Garcia (Mother) – 1971
• Elena Bengco Garcia (Wife) – May 3, 1962
• Death March – 1978
• Meditation – 1965
• The Forest – 1971
• Talisaing – March, 1973
• Sabongero – 1957
• Mealtime at the prison camp – 1945
• Metamorphosis – 1972
• The wall to intramuros – 1939
• Dancers 

 

Note: Some of his paintings are not listed since some of them are in the possession of other individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

• (https://lakansining.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/university-of-the-philippines-quezon-city-in-search-of-the-filipino-identity-the-u-p-vargas-museum-collection/)
• CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, Vol 4. Manila: Cultural Center of the Philippines, 1994.