HISTORICAL TRIUMPH OF JUAN LUNA'S SPOLIARIUM

Introduction:

The Spoliarium, which is often misspelled as 'Spolarium', was painted by Juan Luna, and is
considered to be one of the most internationally renowned pieces of modern Filipino art. Luna
submitted his painting to the Exposicin Nacional de Bellas Artes in 1884 which received a gold
medal. The masterpiece was given so much praise that even Jose Rizal, Philippine's national
hero, addressed two things about it: The glorification of genius and the grandeur of Juan Luna's
artistic skills.

A Spoliarium is a Latin word referring to the basement of the Roman Colesseum where the fallen
and dying gladiators who fight to the death-- with their own precious and God given lives-- just
for the entertainment of their Roman oppressors are dumped and devoid of their worldly
possessions. Luna depicts to us what is happening after the gladiator's fight and what happened
to those who loses the battle.

A true work of art can often speak for itself and releases its true artistic meaning just by looking
at it. The artwork of Juan Luna truly exceeds the given definition of art. The Spoliarium, which is
one of the Philippine's pride, now hangs in the main gallery of the National Museum of the
Philippines and is the first painting to greet museum visitors.