Mendoza, Rheanne Angelica J.

October 19, 2019

GEARTAP-C33
The Definition of Detailed Chaos

The ​Spoliarium is ​made by Juan Luna y Novicio in 1884. It is an oil painting currently located in
the Philippines National Museum. My first impression of the work was that is depicting a scene of chaos
from a roman gladiator ring. In the center, there are men in red who are dragging dead bodies. In the
background, there is a crowd who is not looking at what is happening except for two old men who seem
to be discussing the scenery that is taking place. There is also a man who is trying to grab one of the
people in the crowd. The right side of the painting is the middle ground which depicts a woman on the
floor looking at what looks like charred bodies. The painting has very distinct areas which are red. There
is also a good application of chiaroscuro as the lighting of the scenes in the artwork is consistent with
where the basis for the source of light would be.

This painting is quality because of all the elements it has applied even in little detail. The story
starts with the two men in the center. The way the bodies of these men are painted show motion; while the
detail of the crowd in the background in comparison to the people in the center shows a depth field. The
colors in the painting correspond well to both the scene it wishes to show but also the mood that the
colors signify. The men who are dragging the men on the floor, as well as the men being dragged, are
wearing red. This is relevant because the men are supposedly Roman gladiators. The color red could also
signify the mood of anger which is usually associated with the violence of the warriors. The colors in the
background are also well-chosen as they do not overpower the red which is meant to be the main point but
instead emphasizes it. Lastly, the painting follows the correct perspectives of the walls and floors with
regard to the events taking place.

The artwork has a chaotic mood. The word ​Spoliarium refers to the basement of the Roman
Colosseum where the gladiators are dumped and disposed of. This painting was made years after the
GOMBURZA incident in 1872 and could be homage as a revolutionary act that depicts the status of the
Philippines at the time. Both the gladiator dragging the body and the one being dragged represent
Filipinos at war. The fallen man in the middle represents the Filipinos who fought for freedom, while the
more indistinct one represents the people who were collateral to the violence. The main gladiator being
dragged into the darkness would signify how these fallen heroes would be forgotten in the darkness. The
background represents the other people living in that time. There are those who saw what happened and
live to tell the tales of the history that took place, and those few who remembered and mourned for what
they lost in that dark time of our history.

When I first looked at the ​Spoliarium,​ what I saw was a depiction of a scene from roman culture.
Now that I’ve observed it on a deeper level I noticed how it has an underlying message related to the time
it was made. In my interpretation, I mentioned how the art talked about the relevant events of that time;
however, the oppression shown in his painting can still be applied now to Filipinos who keep pulling each
other down in terms of success. Through this analysis of Juan Luna’s painting, I also learned that art,
especially its message can last for decades and can be interpreted in many different ways. Art is not just
something to look at, but a way of expressing a message which cannot be fully expressed in words.
Lastly, it has taught me that there are deeper meanings to things on many different occasions and I should
learn how to decipher what lies beyond what meets the eye.
Mendoza, Rheanne Angelica J. October 19, 2019
GEARTAP-C33