In Spoliarium, how is the The boceto for Spoliarium of the Other versions elucidated?
In 2018, a forgotten boceto (study) of the Spoliarium was rediscovered after nearly 125 years. The boceto is considered the earliest version of the work and is dated from 1883, made ascribed on the canvas itself with the words, SPOLIARIVM - boceto LVNA, R[OMA], 1883, making this version the earliest. Based on the literature, the study featured a peculiar signature written by Luna in baybayin script on the canvas's lower right side. The script for the word BU LA[N], was deduced from the Ilocano language for moon, which the artist added only to about four of his known works.The boceto was last publicly exhibited at the 1893 Exposición Histórico-Natural y Etnográfica at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. Further research revealed that its provenance is part of the collection of the Philippine politician Pedro Paterno, a known friend and patron of Luna.The painting later ended in the ownership of Don Jose Vazquez Castiñeira, a former mayor of Sarria, a municipality in the province of Lugo in Spain for nearly 130 years. It is believed that Paterno having been appointed as the new Director of the Museo-Biblioteca de Filipinas, the paintings were later sold or given to the Vazquez Castiñeiras. Paterno was married to Maria Luisa Piñeiro de Paterno who originated from Galicia, the same area were Vazquez Castiñeiras hailed from.In 1996, Maria Nuñez Rodriguez, a childless widow of Don Francisco Vazquez Gayoso summoned her relatives into her household able to divide her estate. Included in the said estate were Philippine works of art that included an earlier version of España y Filipinas (1884) by Luna, the Spoliarium study, La Pintura, a work by Luna's contemporary Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, and other Philippine works of art.The work was subsequently sold for a record price of PHP73.584 million (US$1.36 million) at a Salcedo Auctions' Important Philippine Art sale in the Philippines.
Sarria Pedro Paterno Félix Resurrección Hidalgo La Pintura canvas Lugo National Archaeological Museum moon Ilocano language baybayin Galicia Museo-Biblioteca de Filipinas España y Filipinas boceto Madrid