0:02 exfoliarium is a famous painting by
0:05 Filipino artist Juan Luna created in
0:07 1884 it is one of the most iconic and
0:10 celebrated works of Filipino art the
0:12 painting depicts a scene from the Roman
0:14 Empire where defeated Gladiators are
0:16 being dragged to the spoliarium a place
0:18 where dead Gladiators are stripped and
0:21 disposed of after a brutal combat Luna's
0:23 intention was to reveal not only the
0:25 brutality of the Roman Arena but also to
0:27 reflect the harsh realities of his own
0:29 country which was under Spanish colonial
0:30 rule at the time
0:35 measuring 4.22 meters by 7.675 meters
0:37 spoliarium is an enormous canvas that
0:40 demands attention Luna's meticulous
0:42 attention to detail and skillful use of
0:43 light and shadows create a sense of
0:46 drama adding to the emotional impact of
0:47 the painting
0:49 the painting was first showcased at the
0:51 exposition Nacional de Bella's arts in
0:54 Madrid Spain where it won a gold medal
0:55 its success brought International
0:58 recognition to Luna and his work and he
1:00 became a prominent figure in the
1:03 European art scene today spoliarium is
1:05 housed in the National Museum of Fine
1:07 Arts in Manila and is considered a
1:09 National Treasure of the Philippines
1:11 it is seen as a symbol of Filipino
1:13 resilience resistance and the ongoing
1:16 struggle for freedom and Justice the
1:18 painting continues to inspire and
1:20 provoke thought reminding viewers of the
1:22 dark and complex history that shapes the nation
