Reaction Paper
Gabrielle Rae V. Bueser
HFH23
June 15, 2013
Reaction Paper: Spoliarium
As we enter the hall of the National Museum of the Philippines, the prominence of "Spoliarium" an oil on poplar completed in 1884 by National Artist, Juan Luna, is remarkable. The super- sized painting depicts a dark hollow beneath the Roman arena referred to as the Spoliarium where the bodies of slain gladiators are being dragged away for disposal. This is the time in history when the Romans travelled to Europe and collected slaves, otherwise known as the Vikings, to entertain other people in Rome. The Romans created the “Viking Games” where Vikings were forced by Romans to battle lions, tigers and against themselves in an arena. It strikes me as extremely violent, bloody and inhuman. The slaves have no other choice than to fight and kill in order for them to survive. The purpose of the Spoliarium was to “spoil” the dead bodies of the gladiators by exposing them to birds or any creature that eats human flesh. In the right side of the picture you will see an old lady waiting for the corpse of her loved one and an old man searching for the body of his son. The distress is palpable.
Being a gladiator is not an easy achievement. To be worthy for battle, it is a long process of training and they have a coach who teaches them. For some, becoming a gladiator will earn them some money to support their family. Ultimately, it is the survivor of the fittest and despite a long and hard road to be able to compete, that day may be last for the gladiator who loses. If I were living during these ancient times, I would feel a degree of admiration for the gladiators as they are giving their blood and sweat to support their families. It must truly be a feat of the human spirit to be able to live from day to day knowing that the next battle may be the end.
Juan Luna used heavy, dramatic colors such black and red which emphasized the gloomy and deadly end of the combatants. There is a shift from lightness
HFH23
June 15, 2013
Reaction Paper: Spoliarium
As we enter the hall of the National Museum of the Philippines, the prominence of "Spoliarium" an oil on poplar completed in 1884 by National Artist, Juan Luna, is remarkable. The super- sized painting depicts a dark hollow beneath the Roman arena referred to as the Spoliarium where the bodies of slain gladiators are being dragged away for disposal. This is the time in history when the Romans travelled to Europe and collected slaves, otherwise known as the Vikings, to entertain other people in Rome. The Romans created the “Viking Games” where Vikings were forced by Romans to battle lions, tigers and against themselves in an arena. It strikes me as extremely violent, bloody and inhuman. The slaves have no other choice than to fight and kill in order for them to survive. The purpose of the Spoliarium was to “spoil” the dead bodies of the gladiators by exposing them to birds or any creature that eats human flesh. In the right side of the picture you will see an old lady waiting for the corpse of her loved one and an old man searching for the body of his son. The distress is palpable.
Being a gladiator is not an easy achievement. To be worthy for battle, it is a long process of training and they have a coach who teaches them. For some, becoming a gladiator will earn them some money to support their family. Ultimately, it is the survivor of the fittest and despite a long and hard road to be able to compete, that day may be last for the gladiator who loses. If I were living during these ancient times, I would feel a degree of admiration for the gladiators as they are giving their blood and sweat to support their families. It must truly be a feat of the human spirit to be able to live from day to day knowing that the next battle may be the end.
Juan Luna used heavy, dramatic colors such black and red which emphasized the gloomy and deadly end of the combatants. There is a shift from lightness