The University of Santo Tomas Museum of Arts and Sciences is the oldest existing museum in the Philippines. Started as a Gabinete de Fisica, an observation room of mineral

Mineral

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...

, botany

Botany

Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...

 and biology

Biology

Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...

 collections in the 17th century. Under the old Spanish educational law the collections were used as classroom materials for the courses in science especially in Medicine

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is the medical school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines....

 and Pharmacy

University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy

The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Pharmacy is the pharmaceutical school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and the largest Catholic university in Manila, Philippines....

.

History

Fr. Ramon Martinez, O.P.

Dominican Order

The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...

, a professor of Natural History

Natural history

Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...

, founded the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences in 1871. However, it was Fr. Casto de Elera, O.P., who started to systematically gather and catalogue all the collections, some of which date back to 1682.

Considered the oldest school-based museum in the Philippines, the UST Museum became a repository of scientific and artistic articles and objets d’art

Work of art

A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...

. Starting in 1941, it acquired the works of Filipino masters such as Fernando

Fernando Amorsolo

Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto is one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light...

 and Pablo Amorsolo

Pablo Amorsolo

Pablo Cueto Amorsolo is a Filipino painter. He is the younger brother of the Philippine National Artist Fernando Amorsolo.-Biography:...

, Carlos Francisco, Vicente Manansala

Vicente Manansala

Vicente Silva Manansala was a Philippine cubist painter and illustrator.Manansala was born in Macabebe, Pampanga. From 1926 to 1930, he studied at the U.P. School of Fine Arts. In 1949, Manansala received a six-month grant by UNESCO to study at the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Banff and Montreal, Canada...

, and Galo Ocampo. The Museum has permanent displays for specimens of Natural History; Ethnographic

Ethnography

Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...

materials; Oriental Arts objects; Philippine Religious images; Paintings; and Coins, Medals, and Memorabilia. The painting collection includes works from the 17th to the 20th century.

The Museum also houses the Museum Gallery, a souvenir shop, and a mini-library. The Museum Gallery has served as the venue for art exhibitions.

Collections

• Natural History
• Visual Arts
• Philippine Religious Images
• Coins, Medals and Memorabilia
• Non-Philippine Oriental Arts
• Ethnography