The works of the great masters have always been regarded with reverence due to the impact these artists made on their respective mediums. As such, it is a joyous occasion whenever a piece which has long been considered lost to history is found once again for a new generation of viewers to appreciate.
This was the case when Leon Gallery Jaime Ponce De Leon recovered a piece from maestro Juan Luna, the painter of the haunting Spolarium. Hymen, oh Hyménée, also known as Boda Romana (Roman Wedding), though painted by a Filipino, has never been in the Philippines. Furthermore, it was never seen in public since it was last exhibited at the Exposition Universelle 1889 in Paris.
Ponce De Leon shared that he first heard about the missing piece some 15 years past, recounting that it was Dr. Eluterio “Teyet” Pascual who first saw the painting about 50 years ago. “The dream of finding it would, thus, become a tireless obsession and I would find myself haunting galleries and dealers – famous and some infamous – all over Europe, courting old maids and befriending aristocrats and everybody and anybody in between with some connection to Juan Luna and to the Philippines. It would always be futile, and my hopes always dashed. And then one day in 2014, I got a call and was told to be at the doorstep of a certain aristocratic home in a European city by 10 a.m. sharp. And there I was, hardly believing what was revealed and finally laid before me. It was the grail,” he recounted.
The painting is widely considered the holy grail of Philippine art. It was this piece that won Juan Luna the bronze prize during the Exposition Universelle, cementing his status as one of the best painters in the Western World, earning not only for himself but for many Filipinos a sense of dignity and pride.
The masterpiece shows a bridal party underway, set against the backdrop of a massive roman hall with towering marble pillars and heavy drapery. As the bride and groom lead the contingent, ladies trail behind, carrying bouquets of flowers. bringing up the rear are servants and other revelers.
Hymen, oh Hyménée, the piece is now on display at the Ayala Museum through a long-term loan agreement with Leon Gallery. The exhibition titled “Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero”, was designed by scenographer Gino Gonzales, and examines the single work of art around three themes: the world of 1889; Juan Luna, the painter, as hero; and the complex imagery in the painting inspired by a Roman wedding feast.
A substantive and handsome catalog with essays by historian Ambeth R. Ocampo, Ph.D., film director Martin Arnaldo and curators Ditas Samson, Tenten Mina, and Jei Ente captures this watershed moment in the artist’s life and, by implication, our nation’s history.
The exhibit is also accompanied by a documentary film by Martin Arnaldo which traces the recovery of the artwork while at the same time captures the dilemma of the late 19th century Filipino diaspora for Juan Luna, which arguably is still true for his countrymen living and working abroad today.
The masterpiece will be available for viewing until December 30.
