ICYMI: A long-lost painting by Juan Luna was finally unveiled

The painting regarded as the “Holy Grail of Philippine Art” is finally back in its homeland.

Juan Luna’s Hymen, oh Hyménée! disappeared for over 132 years after last being seen in 1889 after it won a bronze medal at that year’s Paris World Fair. The piece was in Luna’s possession until his death in Hong Kong.

Compared to the iconic Spoliarium, this masterpiece portrays a more gentle picture of a Roman wedding ritual.

The painting was feared to be destroyed along with Luna’s other works. However, Leon Gallery founder and director Jaime Ponce de Leon persevered to find the masterpiece for almost a decade and tracked it down across Europe. He finally acquired it in 2014 but kept it in a storeroom since.

Hymen, oh Hyménée is now open to the viewing public as it’s on a long-term loan to the Ayala Museum. The museum also opened an exhibit titled Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero, designed by scenographer Gino Gonzales, with essays by historian Ambeth Ocampo, film director Martin Arnaldo, and curators Ditas Samson, Tenten Mina, and Jei Ente. Arnaldo also created a documentary on the recovery of Luna’s painting.

The Splendor exhibit is open to the public until December 30, 2023.

Luna is known for his masterpieces including Spoliarium, The Death of Cleopatra, El Pacto de Sangre, La Batalia de Lepanto, and The Parisian Life.

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Source: we the pvblic