Juan Luna and 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

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