Juan Luna’s España y Filipinas (detail only) auctioned by Sotheby’s HK this weekend.
The Juan Luna painting that sold for a hammer price of US$3.5M at the Sotheby’s Hong Kong 40th Anniversary Evening Sale on Oct 5 was previously owned by an American private collector – and is different from the one that belongs to, and is still in, the Lopez Museum.
Apparently, the master painter made three versions of España y Filipinas. According to Filipino historian Ambeth Ocampo, “one is in the Lopez Museum in Ortigas, the other is in the Ayuntamiento in Cadiz, and the third is unallocated”.
Lopez Museum’s Rosan Cruz says “the museum’s piece was formerly owned by the museum in Seville and has a more detailed costume” that shows the woman representing Spain in a red dress, while the lady standing for the Philippines is in a white baro and blue saya. At 97 3/4 x 31 1/3 inches, it is also bigger than the one sold at the Sotheby’s auction, which measures 90 x31 1/4 inches and shows two women in Greco-Roman outfits.
España Y Filipinas is one of over 100 pieces by Filipino masters included in Trajectories, an exhibition at Lopez Museum & Library (G/F Benpres bldg, Exchange Road corner Meralco Avenue; +63 2 631 2417. Mon-Sat 8am-5pm. PHP100/adult, PHP60-80/student). There are also works by Hidalgo, Amoroso, HR Ocampo, Botong, and Galo Ocampo.
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Infographic via Ricky Francisco, reprinted with permission.
