The Death of Cleopatra (La Muerte de Cleopatra) would open the door to Juan Luna’s fame and fortune as the Philippines’ first internationally recognized painter.'
\nHis accomplishments would be described thus, “Luna won his first major prize in Europe, a Second Class or Silver medal at Spain´s 1881 Exposición General de Bellas Artes (General Exhibition of Fine Arts), with this painting. Also known as the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes, Spain´s national art exhibition took place every two to three years from 1856 to 1968, and hewed to the standards of Spain´s premier art school, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando) in Madrid. While Luna had studied there, he made this painting after settling in Rome, having followed his teacher and mentor, the Spanish artist Alejo Vera, from Madrid.”
\nIt dates from Luna’s Roman period which produced the ‘Spoliarium’ which cemented his place in artistic history when it won for him a gold, or the supreme prize, in 1884.
\n‘F. Rodoreda’ was a forgotten Spanish artist who lived in the Philippines. According to Mr. Zeidrick J Cudilla , writing in Old Iloilo, “The artistic genius was FRANCISCO DE PAULA RODOREDA, whose career as a sculptor was recognized in the marblework of the three altars of the now-destroyed Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola in Manila (p. 187, Reseña histórica de la inauguración de la Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola, 1889). The Spanish bibliophile Wenceslao Retana wrote of him as \"el primer marmolista que ha habido en Filipinas” (the best sculptor in marble that ever was in the Philippines.”)
\nFurthermore, Cudilla noted, “Aside from being a sculptor, Rodoreda served in many capacities in the public sphere such as being a 'regidor' (councilor) of the Ayuntamiento de Manila, 'tesorero' (treasurer) of the Sociedad Economica de Amigos del Pais, and editor-in-chief of ‘Boletin de la Camara de Comercio de Manila’.”
\nWhat was important is that Rodoreda would be instrumental in giving Juan Luna the grant he needed to remain in Spain to pursue his art and his fame. The ‘Sociedad Economica’ (or ‘Economic Society of the Friends of the Country’, composed of wealthy sponsors) as well as the Ayuntamiento (or City Council of Manila were important forces not only in the administration of the Manila Academy of Art — but also financed the scholarships for Filipino artists to study in Madrid or Europe.
\nArt historian Luciano P.R. Santiago wrote that it was at the instance of “Regidor Francisco de Rodoreda that Luna received the grant from the Ayuntamiento after he won a silver medal at the Madrid salon.” Spanning 1881 to 1885 — or Luna’s highly productive Roman period — this allowed him to create the Spoliarium and many other works. This keepsake of the ‘Death of Cleopatra’ with Luna’s affectionate dedication confirms this relationship and the artist’s gratitude for the assistance and support.
","lot_group":"PAINTING","lot_details_html":"Juan Luna y Novicio (1857-1899)
Photograph, The Death of Cleopatra (La Muerte de Cleopatra)
Signed and dedicated “Al distinguido artista y amigo F. Rodoreda, J. Luna, Roma, 1883”
(To the distinguished artist and friend, F. Rodoreda, J. Luna, Rome 1883.)
Above the dedication, a handwritten notation adding the date of the painting may be
seen clearly with the numbers “881”, completing the date 1881 when it was painted.
A second handwritten note at the reverse says “ La Muerte de Cleopatra estuvo colgado
en el Palacio del Senado de Madrid, 5/18/89” (The Death of Cleopatra hangs in the
Palace of the Senate in Madrid.)
14 1/2\" x 18\" (37 cm x 46 cm)