More than 130 years have passed since the late Filipino painter Juan Luna's masterpiece – "Hymen, oh Hyménée!" – was last seen in Paris, France. On Monday, June 12, it was finally unveiled to the public at the Ayala Museum for free to mark the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence.
Created in 1889 during the balmy moments of the painter's life, the masterfully complex artwork is inspired by a Roman wedding feast. According to the museum on June 10, "Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero," the exhibition centered on the painting, was designed by scenographer Gino Gonzales. He investigated the artwork under three themes, namely the year 1889, Juan Luna himself, and the imagery of "Hymen, oh Hyménée."
The painting was discovered by art collector Jaime Ponce de Leon, founding director of León Gallery, in 2014. For the next nine years, the artwork "sat in a crate in his storeroom waiting for the perfect moment for its revelation."
"Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero,” which also features essays by historian Ambeth Ocampo, film director Martin Arnaldo, and curators Ditas Samson, Tenten Mina, and Jei Ente, will run until Dec. 30 at the museum.
