VISUAL ANALYSIS OF
Spoliarium
CREATED BY JUAN LUNA (1884)
JUAN LUNA IS A FILIPINO ARTIST THAT IS MORE
REKNOWN IN TODAY'S PRESENT TIMES AS THE ONE
THAT PAINTED THE FAMOUS PAINTING "SPOLIARIUM"
WHICH HE MADE IN THE YEAR 1884 AS AN ENTRY TO
THE MADRID EXHIBITION, AND ALSO BECOME THE
YEAR WHERE HE GAIN HIS FIRST GOLD MEDAL.
ALTHOUGH HE HAVE A LOT OF FINISHED PAINTING
AND FAMOUS ONES AT THAT, I STILL CHOOSE HIS
SPOLIARIUM BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUENESS
COMPARED TO THE OTHER PAINTINGS I HAD SEEN IN
THE INTERNET AS WELL AS TO MY TEXTBOOKS.
DESCRIPTION ANALYSIS
The Spoliarium is an oil-paint on canvas At first glance, the viewers might think that the
created by the famous Filipino painter Juan art piece was created by a Roman Painter due to
Luna in the year 1884. This artwork can be how it was painted. There are about several
found in the main gallery of the National components of design and principle being used in
Museum of Fine Arts, Manila specifically at the the painting. The colors are not of variety but of
center of the gallery standing tall at 4.22 ones that complement each other very well, which
meters x 7.675 meters in dimensions. It was creates a gloomy atmosphere and gives the vibe of
inspired by Roman history and their cultural a darker tone than it lets on, where the use of
Harmony upon the color scheme of the artwork
entertainment that involves violence and
makes it use. The choice of coloring contributes to
bloodshed, another fact is the word that Juan
the feeling that the painting is exuding, which is the
Luna had used to title his artwork, Spoliarium.
Renaissance Period, however it also pertains the
This word indicates the basement of the Roman
naturalism and realism of tragedy that the
Colosseum where all the fallen gladiators are
painting wanted to show upon those who gaze at it.
being put and left behind. In terms of It is truly amazing that colors can be harmonized
composition, the painting is a well-done with each other and can be manipulated to create
masterpiece of an artwork, the detailing of the an emphasis towards the captivating subjects on
light shining only on the left side of the canvas the art piece, which are the gladiators being
was more visible than on those to the right, dragged by the roman soldiers. Honestly it gives
which clearly are there intending to lead the off an eerie feeling accompanied by how smooth
eyes of the viewers to see only that one side of the brush strokes upon the large canvas, it
the painting. Letting the people to make their becomes more than eerie the more you study the
own interpretation on the artwork, at the same painting though. It could be said that it is Haunting
time, while unknowingly being blind to what it rather than eerie, a perfect depiction of what the
really depicts. artwork of Juan Luna really wants to tell the
viewers, which is the suffering of Filipinos under
the Spanish colonization.
INTERPRETATION EVALUATION
The Spoliarium artwork of Juan Luna is by far In terms of judging the artwork, I would
the very first painting that sends shivers down my gladly say that it is amazing and breathtaking.
spine, one of the main reasons is not because of From the mind of Juan Luna to create such a
the meaning behind it, but because the first thing masterpiece, and a very large one at that, it is a
that I felt when I look at Spoliarium is not wonder painting that really conveyed the meaning
and how gorgeous the art piece is, but instead I “Show, don’t Tell”. For many years, this
felt that there’s something off, something wrong,
painting inspired a lot of Filipino to not stop
about the painting itself, I can’t help but feel that
seeking freedom, to not stop fighting to have
there’s something more heavy about it than meets
not only our country but also our life and
the eye and if there’s only one word that I could
dignity we once had. It is a reminder to us all
call the entirety of the art piece, that word would
be “Haunting” and not eerie. Whenever I study the
that no matter how many times we fall due to
painting the more I interpret it as a way to show what the world keeps throwing at us it doesn’t
towards the viewers the capability of humanity in mean that we’re going to stay down and just
general to be cruel just for the sake of keep catching every punch that will keep
entertainment and the feeling of being strong and sending to our way. The Spoliarium of Juan
at the top of the world once they had beaten the Luna conveyed his patriotism to our nation and
ones who are weaker than them. Violence, gives out his own message and lesson that we
bloodshed, death, suffering and pain, all of this could apply to our lives as Filipino, and that is
can be seen in Spoliarium, not to mention the to always stand up and learn to overcome
scene also had taken on the basement of the every single hardship, suffering, and pain
Roman Colosseum, which by far brought forth the within our lives, just like how we overcome and
heaviness of the atmosphere from the painting. conquered the Spaniards in the past. Learn to
With the use of darker color tones, the mood that I not lose hope and learn to always remember
feel and interpret of this artwork had said only
that we are more resilient than we ever think
one thing, Despair.
about in ourselves for the longest time.
