Spoliarium by Juan Luna - a Masterpiece of Filipino Art

The Spoliarium. A painting created by the world-renowned painter, Juan Luna himself. This masterpiece has received praise from distinguished Filipino individuals such as our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal himself, calling the artwork “The Glorification of Genius.” This artwork currently hangs at the entrance of the National Museum of Fine Arts up until today. It was created in 1884, almost a decade and a half before the Spanish rule on the Philippines ended. Out of all the artworks in the National Museum of Fine Arts, a Spoliarium by Juan Luna stood out to me the most. In this essay I will reflect on what was depicted on the scene and why. Moreover, it is important to emphasize the essence of its symbolism.

The depicted scene is the aftermath of the bloody carnage of gladiator fights where warriors are stripped off from their glory for the entertainment of their Roman oppressors. It represented how our nation was at that point in time when we were under the tyrannical regime of the Spaniards. As seen on the painting, dead soldiers were dragged away in the spoliarium, the colosseum basement. Their blood smearing across the ground as they were dragged across the floor by Roman soldiers. On the left, a horde of people are seen, ardently waiting for their chance to strip off what is left from the dead warrior’s body. At the right, a somber mood is felt. There sat a woman on the floor, seemingly weeping out of anguish and grief of a lost loved one. Behind her, in the dark, is an old man holding a torch, presumably looking for his son. This piece was known for its representation of our nation at that time; mirroring the warriors as they were enslaved by their roman oppressors, as we have been enslaved by our Spanish colonizers.  The colors used in this composition are striking and unique, the use of reds and warm colors complementing each other. The dark tones in the corners and the light tones in the center, highlighting the fallen warriors.

One of the reasons that this artwork is important is because of its symbolism. Unquestionably, the composition demonstrates an unfortunate occasion. However, I realized that it also demonstrated more profound importance, particularly for the Filipinos who had experienced the Spanish colonization firsthand. Comparing the composition to historical events, the fallen warriors who are being dragged in the scene are the Filipino people, while the men dragging them is the embodiment of the Spanish tyranny. The horde of people crowded the left side represents the social malignant at that time. Undoubtedly, there is more than meets the eye with regards to the Spolarium. It let us see the memory of the individuals who live in the time during the oppression of an overlord. A collusion of anachronistical, political, and neoclassical fragments piece together to let us perceive the unprecedented. At the same time, to appreciate the honor and bravery of our people who fought for our nation's freedom.

In conclusion, this artpiece inspires, because it does no longer keep back from the realistic portrayal of struggling that need to have been gone through and does not romanticize the torture that can be seen now not only in the painting, however also in the world around us.