Juan Luna's Hymen Oh Hymenée

Hymen Oh Hymenée (or Boda Romana), 1886-1887

No one knew where this painting was after it was sold around the 1930s. Before then it was part of Luna’s private collection. For Jaime Ponce de Leon, owner of Leon Gallery in Metro Manila, it had become an obsession to find this missing masterpiece which had won the bronze medal at the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris where it was last seen in public. More than a century later, in 2014, Ponce de Leon got a call to appear at a certain address in Europe which he heeded. And there it was, the “Grail of Philippine Art”, for his eyes to behold. Ponce de Leon bought the painting, had it shipped to the Philippines and kept it stored it in a crate for a few more years until it was revealed to the public at the Ayala Museum in 2023. What a journey this painting has taken! Finally Juan Luna’s depiction of his wedding to Paz Pardo de Tavera was brought to light.

The Bride

Juan Luna is nowhere to be seen in this painting. But his marks are everywhere from the passionate colors to the gleaming marble floors to his quick and fluid brushstrokes. His bride is shown being led to the groom’s chamber. She’s set apart from the rest of the wedding party, looking a bit dazed.

Photograph of the painting

Notice the tortoise on the floor. It’s symbolic of a happy and submissive bride in her own home.

Señora Duquesa Viuda de Medinaceli

If you look closely at the woman leading the bride in the bridal procession, you will notice that her hair has the same headpiece as the Señora Duquesa.

The Bridesmaids

It was quite a wedding with ten fashionably dressed bridesmaids portrayed in dynamic and candid poses. The lavishly decorated courtyard is strewn with garlands and flowers. Can you imagine the scent of incense smoke as it trails in the air? Are the sheep gifts to the bride and groom or are they going to be on the dinner menu? This viewer is begging for answers.

A study of one of the bridesmaids

Close-up view of the Wedding Party

Paz Pardo de Tavera, the bride of Juan Luna

Luna painted this scene during their honeymoon in Venice. Hymen, Oh Hymenée is an invocation to Hymen, the Roman god of marriage for a harmonious union. Alas their love story ended on a tragic note. Luna shot his wife and mother-in-law in a fit of jealousy, believing his wife was unfaithful to him. Luna was later acquitted of the murder charges filed against him on the grounds that it was a crime of passion.

Juan Luna, 1857-1899

The exhibition Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero has ended but you can check this video to learn more about Hymen, Oh Hymenée: https://youtu.be/o-iQr73KnN4?feature=shared

Follow the link below to view the highly acclaimed and awarded painting, Spoliarium by Juan Luna and other masterpieces at the National Museum of the Philippines: https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2018/05/masterpieces-from-national-museum-of.html

Stay connected

*****

Images by TravelswithCharie

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and...

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

Church of the Beheading of St. John, Arbore Monastery Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Romania lies the enchanting region of Bucovina, home to a treasure trove of stunning monasteries. The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a testament to the region's rich history, spirituality and artistic genius. One of the most visited monasteries in Bucovina is Voronet. It was commissioned by Stefan the Great, Voivode of Moldova and one of its most admired rulers. Moldova was a medieval state that once encompassed parts of present-day Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. Voronet was built in 1488 to commemorate his victory over the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Vaslui and it was miraculously completed in three months time. Succeeding princes of Moldova continued the construction of more magnificent monasteries. The exterior walls of these structures were adorned with intricate frescoes, depicting biblical scenes, saints, and...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog