Spoliarium by Juan Luna

(1883-1884), Oil in canvas

4.26m x 7.72m
National Museum of the Philippines, Manila

DACANAY, JOHN NICHOLE H. CODE 062

BSA 2 MT-Participation 1

The size of the painting is huge that it measures about four

meters in height and seven meters in width, it is no doubt that the
painting commands attention and gives off a majestic aura. In the
use of colors, it uses mostly dark colors in order to give those who
SEMIOTIC PLANE
stare at it that dark feeling that is felt in death, suffering, war and
any other type of extreme anguish. Also, Luna made us of red that
attracts most attention. Luna has been known to use colors not
just only for aesthetics but also for their symbolic value.

The Spoliarium illustrates an event during the Roman Empire,

where bloodied bodies of gladiators being dragged into a pile of
ICONIC PLANE other corpses towards an unknown darkness. It can be notice in
the left side a cheering crowd, screaming for blood, while to the
right a woman who is in crouched and seemingly in sorrow.
 The painting shows a tragic event. But it also shows a deeper
meaning, especially for the Filipinos during the time of the
Spanish colonization. The fallen gladiators are the Filipino people,
while the men dragging them are the Spanish during their rule. It
is believed that the woman crouched on the right side of the
CONTEXTUAL PLANE
painting is the Inang Bayan who weeps for her Philippines.

It also inspired the title of rock band Eraserheads’ 1997 hit song
“Spoliarium,” which has been connected by many to the Pepsi
Paloma rape controversy.

The Spoliarium illustrates the brutality and heartlessness of man

and this world. In our modern-day context this painting portrays
the abuse of power of the government, which can be seen in the
EVALUATIVE PLANE eyes of the poor and persecuted, they are the gladiators who
plays in the arena of the merciless ruler. It is a reality that even
they played their role in the game like the gladiators does in the
painting, ate the end they still end up defeated and dead.