

MANILA - The sketch of Juan Luna's renowned "Spoliarium" was sold for P63 million at the Salcedo Auction Saturday, weeks after news of its discovery circulated online.

Applause erupted after the nearly 24-minute bidding held at The Peninsula Manila's Rigodon Ballroom.

The Spoliarium boceto or study was found in Europe earlier this year after Salcedo Auctions Executive Director Richie Lerma received an email from a man who kept the miniature version of Luna's masterpiece in his private collection.

The Spoliarium boceto's initial bidding price was P25 million.

"Anyone who buys this, you will not have to make trips to National Museum anymore," the auctioneer said in jest.

The painting's full size version, considered Luna's greatest work, is at the National Museum in Manila.

Other pieces that were auctioned off at the Salcedo Auctions' "The Well Appointed Life" event were 2 Paris period paintings of Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, 2 "Golden Period" paintings of Fernando Amorsolo, and a 1964 piece of National Artist Benedicto "BenCab" Cabrera.