The #NationalMuseumPH celebrates the 164th birth anniversary of the eminent Filipino master painter Juan Novicio Luna #OnThisDay in 1857 by featuring his 1879 self-portrait in charcoal, his smallest artwork in the National Fine Arts Collection (NFAC). Measuring 13.9 x 10.8 cm, this work with the dedication, A mis queridos padres (To my dear parents) was completed by Luna in 1879 at the age of 22. In the same year, he moved to Rome, Italy to apprentice under Alejo Vera (1834-1923), a Spanish painter known for creating historical paintings. In 1884, Luna completed the “Spoliarium,” his most extensive artwork in the national collection measuring 4.26 x 7.72 m. which won the first out of the three gold medals during the National Exposition of Fine Arts in Madrid, Spain. This painting, which is now exhibited at the Spoliarium Hall, is the most photographed masterpieces in the National Museum of Fine Arts. Juan Luna (1857-1899) was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, to Joaquin Luna de San Pedro y Posada and Laureana Novicio y Ancheta. They were around 43 and 50 years old, respectively, when this featured artwork was completed. In 1869, Luna enrolled at the Escuela Nautica. He obtained the certificate of Piloto de Altos Mares Tercer clase (pilot of high seas – third class) after five years at the age of 17. The artist also studied in the Ateneo de Municipal, Academia de Bellas Artes in Manila and at the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Spain. Thereafter, most of his artistic career were based in Europe. Luna settled in Paris, France in 1886 after marrying Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera. After six years, in 1892, Luna, out of jealousy, shot and killed his wife, mother-in-law Juliana Gorricho Pardo de Tavera, and wounded his brother-in-law, Felix. He was tried and imprisoned for five months but was pardoned for temporary insanity. After the tragic incident, Luna with his son, Andres, moved to Madrid, Spain, and continued his art practice. On the way to Manila from Paris, the artist died in Hong Kong after a heart attack on December 7, 1899. In 1990, the Far East Bank and Trust Company gifted the nation with this drawing and the other works now found inside the Far East Bank and Trust Company-Andres and Grace Luna de San Pedro Memorial Hall, Gallery VI, of the National Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition gallery is dedicated to the works by Juan Luna and his contemporary, Felix Resurrección Hidalgo (1855-1913). We are now open! Book your visit, view the 360 virtual tour of this exhibition gallery and check other features and services of the Museum by visiting our new and upgraded website: www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph. #NationalMuseumPH #JuanLuna #OnThisDay #MuseumFromHome Text and image by the Fine Arts Division © National Museum of the Philippines (2021)