Long-lost ‘Holy grail of Philippine art’ Luna masterpiece surfaces after 132 years

After 132 years, Filipino painter and political activist Juan Luna's long-lost painting "Hymen, oh Hyménée!" has been found and returned to the artist's home country.

The masterpiece has been acquired by Jaime Ponce de Leon, the founder of León Gallery.

De Leon said no one knew where the painting was and that no collector or dealer would give a clue.

"For me, it became a tireless obsession and I would find myself hunting galleries and dealers all over Europe, anybody and everybody who had some connection to Juan Luna and to the Philippines," de Leon said.

"Then I got a call. I was told to be at the doorstep of a certain aristocratic home in a European City by 10 AM sharp. And there it was. I could not believe what was revealed and it finally lay before me!" he continued.

The painting won a bronze medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle.

"In modern terms, what Luna did in the 19th century is what Lea Salonga's doing in Broadway, what Manny Pacquiao did in the boxing rings of Las Vegas, and what Hidilyn Diaz did by winning an Olympic gold," historian Ambeth Ocampo explained.

"'Yung Spoliarium, gold medalist 'yun pero sa Madrid. 'Yung Madrid kasi, it's a province in terms of art. Ang Paris parang Olympics. So ito 'yung artwork na nagbigay talaga ng honor sa atin," de Leon said.

The artwork will be shown in the exhibition "Splendor: Juan Luna, Painter as Hero" in Ayala Museum in time for the celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence in 12 June, and will last until 30 December.