After an extensive 132-year wait, Juan Luna’s magnificent masterpiece “Hymen, oh Hyménée!” has finally been unveiled to the public. This painting holds a storied history that dates back to the late 19th century.
During his time in Paris from 1884 to 1889, Juan Luna experienced a period of great success in his artistic career. His renowned painting, the “Spoliarium,” had just won a gold medal in the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid in 1884, marking the beginning of a remarkable era for him. In 1886, Luna married Paz Pardo de Tavera and embarked on a honeymoon where he worked on a series of paintings during their travels in Rome and Venice. Among these works was “Hymen, oh Hyménée!,” which Luna held dear and kept in his personal studio.
At that time, Paris was the vibrant epicenter of the art world, much like it is today. Luna’s reputation continued to soar, and in 1899, he participated in the Exposition Universelle, a groundbreaking World’s Fair held in Paris to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. Luna won a bronze medal for his entry, further solidifying his status as a master painter and elevating the artistic reputation of Filipino painters, despite the racial biases prevalent during that era.
The quest to rediscover “The Holy Grail” of Philippine Art began after Luna’s death in 1899, when the painting mysteriously disappeared. Speculations arose, suggesting that the artwork had been burned out of spite by Luna’s family, or destroyed during the war. However, the truth remained elusive, and the painting became surrounded by mythos, known as the “Holy Grail of Philippine Art.”
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the painting resurfaced in the home of an aristocratic family in Europe, who had purchased it in the 1920s. Several collectors tried but failed to buy the painting and bring it back to its homeland. Eventually, in 2014, Jaime Ponce de Leon, the owner of Leon Gallery, discovered the long-lost masterpiece after a rigorous decade-long search in Europe. The acquisition of the painting became de Leon’s most expensive purchase to date.
For many years, the painting remained hidden, known only to a select few. However, in 2022, during a meeting with the Ayala Museum, de Leon decided to collaborate with the institution on an unprecedented long-term loan. This collaboration presented the perfect opportunity to release the painting to the public, coinciding with an exhibit commemorating the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.
The exhibition, titled “Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero,” curated by scenographer Gino Gonzales, delves into the iconic painting through three themes: the world in 1889, Juan Luna as a heroic painter, and the intricate symbolism depicted in the Roman wedding feast. The artwork itself showcases dreamlike pastel colors, with figures of Romans standing tall against grand columns on a marbled floor adorned with flowers.
The exhibition features a catalog of essays written by historian Ambeth R. Ocampo, film director Martin Arnaldo, and curators Ditas Samson, Tenten Mina, and Jei Ente. Additionally, a documentary film by Martin Arnaldo tells the gripping tale of recovering the artwork and explores the circumstances of the Ilustrado diaspora, providing a relatable narrative for Filipinos working abroad today.
This long-lost masterpiece by Juan Luna, “Hymen, oh Hyménée!,” can now be admired at the Ayala Museum until December 31, 2023. Throughout his life, Luna received numerous awards that elevated the Philippines’ status in the international art world of the late 19th century. His work continues to be celebrated and acclaimed, even posthumously.
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