Juan Luna
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2014) |
Juan Luna | |
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sculpting | |
Notable work |
in museums:
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Movement | Realism , |
Spouse | |
Family | Antonio Luna (brother) Joaquin Luna (brother) |
Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta (Spanish: [ˈxwan ˈluna], Tagalog: [hwɐn ˈluna]; October 25, 1857 – December 7, 1899) was a Filipino painter, sculptor and a political activist of the Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. He became one of the first recognized Philippine artists.
His winning of the gold medal in the 1884 Madrid Exposition of Fine Arts, along with the silver win of fellow Filipino painter Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, prompted a celebration which was a significant highlight in the memoirs of members of the Propaganda Movement, with the fellow Ilustrados toasting the two painters' good health and the brotherhood between Spain and the Philippines.
Well regarded for work done in the manner of European academies of his time, Luna painted literary and historical scenes, some with an underscore of political commentary. His allegorical works were inspired by classical balance, and often showed figures in theatrical poses.
Biography
Early life
Born in the town of
Luna enrolled at the Escuela Nautica de Manila (now
Travel abroad
In 1875 Manuel and Juan Luna travelled to Europe, where Manuel studied music and Juan painting. Juan entered the
Vera brought him to Rome for some of his commissions, and Luna was exposed to the art of the Renaissance painters. It was in 1878 that his artistic talents were established with the opening of the first art exposition in Madrid, which was called the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Demonstration of Fine Arts). From then on, Luna became engrossed in painting and produced a collection of paintings that he exhibited at the 1881 Exposition.[4]
In 1881, his
Artistic career
In 1883, Luna commenced work on the painting commissioned by the Ayuntamiento. By May 1884, he dispatched the expansive canvas portraying the Spoliarium to Madrid for the annual Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes. Remarkably, he became the inaugural recipient of one of three gold medals bestowed at the exhibition, earning recognition from both connoisseurs and art critics in attendance. On June 25, 1884, a gathering of Filipino and Spanish nobles organized an event to celebrate Luna's triumph in the exhibition. During the event, Rizal prepared a speech lauding his friend, highlighting the two significant aspects of his artwork—the exaltation of genius and the magnificence of his artistic prowess.[6][3]
Despite Luna's recognition and acclaim for his artistic achievements, he was unjustly denied the esteemed Medal of Honor due to racial prejudice against him as a colonial subject. Nevertheless, King Alfonso XII commissioned Luna to create La batalla de Lepanto (The Battle of Lepanto) for the halls of the Senate of Spain, intending for it to be displayed alongside Francisco Pradilla Ortiz's La rendicion de Granada (The Surrender of Granada), the grand prize-winning artwork from the 1878 competition. The king's intention was to provide compensation to Luna, who had been overlooked for the Medal of Honor with his renowned work, Spoliarium.[4][3]
In 1885, Luna relocated to Paris, where he established his own studio and formed a friendship with Hidalgo. Honouring an agreement with the Manila City Council, he completed the artwork titled
At first, Luna was praised for his grandiose historical works of art in the Graeco-Roman fashion at prestigious European art salons that conformed to classical requirements. However, he became disenchanted with his representations of historical scenes, which he expressed in his writings to his fellow Philippine patriots and like-minded Spanish politicians. Contrary to the presumption of abandonment of academic tradition or a newly found appreciation for
By 1891, Luna shifted his focus towards creating realist artworks that portrayed the societal ills of his time. Influenced by his readings of economists
Luna's commitment to realist art persisted in his other notable works, such as The Parisian Life and series on the French Revolution, Peuple et Rois (People and Kings).[3][5]
Marriage
On December 4, 1886, Luna married María de la Paz Pardo de Tavera, a sister of his friends Félix and Trinidad Pardo de Tavera. The couple traveled to Venice and Rome and settled in Paris. They had one son, whom they named Andrés, and a daughter, María de la Paz, nicknamed Bibi, who died when she was three years old.[7] Luna was fond of his wife. However, the jealous Luna frequently accused Paz of having an affair with a certain Monsieur Dussaq. Finally in a fit of jealousy, he shot the door wherein his wife was behind, killing his wife and mother-in-law and wounding his brother-in-law Félix in the process, on September 22, 1892.[8] He was arrested and murder charges were filed against him.
Luna was acquitted of the charges on February 8, 1893, on the grounds that it had been a crime of passion. Temporary insanity; the "unwritten law" at the time forgave men for killing unfaithful wives.[9] He was ordered to pay the Pardo de Taveras a sum of 1,651 francs and eighty three cents, and an additional 25 francs for postage, in addition to the one franc of claims for damages ("dommages-intérêts"). Five days later, Luna went to Madrid with his brother, Antonio Luna, and his son, Andrés.
Final years
In 1894 Luna moved back to the Philippines and traveled to Japan in 1896, returning during the Philippine Revolution of the
He traveled back to the Philippines in December 1899 upon hearing of the murder of his brother Antonio by the Kawit Battalion in Cabanatuan.
Death
He traveled to Hong Kong and died there on December 7, 1899, from
Media portrayal
- Portrayed by Allan Paule in the 1996 TV series Bayani and the 2015 film Heneral Luna.
- Portrayed by Bryan Benedict in the 2014 TV series Ilustrado.
See also
- Spoliarium
- The Blood Compact
- España y Filipinas
- Antonio Luna
- José Rizal
- José Honorato Lozano
- Damián Domingo
- Fernando Amorsolo
- Fabián de la Rosa
- Justiniano Asuncion
- Félix Resurrección Hidalgo
- Emilio Aguinaldo
Notes
- ^ In October 2023, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, through Resolution No. 18, corrected Luna's birth date to October 25, 1857, based on his baptismal record in Badoc Church which reportedly stated that Luna was three days old when he was baptized on October 27. It is contrary to October 23 and 24, both as per other sources and had been indicated in historical markers. NHCP cited "fallibility of memory" as Luna claimed in his 1886 marriage certificate that he was born on October 24.[1][2]
References
- GMA News Online. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "Historical commission changes Juan Luna's birth date". CNN Philippines. October 9, 2023. Archived from the original on October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g Aguilar Cruz, E. (1975), Luna, Manila: Department of Public Information
- ^ a b c d e f g Pilar, Santiago Albano (1980), Juan Luna: The Filipino as a Painter, Pasig City: Eugenio Lopez Foundation, Inc.
- ^ ISBN 9789811146848
- ISBN 978-1-111-83169-1
- ISBN 978-0-299-22984-9. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ Ocampo, Ambeth (February 14, 2012). "Love that kills". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
- ^ "The Case of Juan Luna Is an Argument for Legalizing Divorce in RP". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
- ^ Discussion of "Tampuhan" (Sulking) painting by Juan Luna Archived 2010-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, from "Juan Luna" article, kulay-diwa.com
- ^ Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, A plot to kill a general (October 27, 2008), The Philippine Star.
- ^ a b Foreman, J., 1906, The Philippine Islands, A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial History of the Philippine Archipelago, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
- Yale. 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ^ “Peuple et Rois” by Juan Luna Archived January 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, lopezmuseum.org.ph