(Spain and the Philippines aka Mother Spain Guiding the Philippines on the Road to Progress) / Ca 1890 / Oil on canvas / 248.92 x 80.64 cm / Artist: Juan Luna / Lopez Museum and Library Collection

To depict the march to progress sought by Filipino reformists in the 1880s, Luna used a tall narrow canvas. This format helps focus on the grand steps, strewn with palms of victory and flowers, while also emphasizing the regal pose of mother Spain and daughter Philippines looking upward to the sky to signify both their hope and entente cordiale. Spain holds her ward on the hips as if guiding her on their ascent.

Still in the classico-romantic tradition, Spain wears a Graeco-Roman-inspired red robe with a trailing train and a crown of laurels. Perhaps this is the first time that the Philippines is represented symbolically as a woman in a native costume. Her white piña blouse complements the red chiffon upper garment of Mother Spain.

The use of pure red, blue, white, and ocher in this painting may unwittingly have suggested this color combination to the future designers of the Filipino flag. The brilliant ocher and green tones as well as the energetic brushwork also helped animate the mood of the painting.

Luna did several oil studies preparatory to the final idea that shows the two figures with their backs facing the viewer. The earliest was given to Pedro Paterno. One finished version was exhibited at the Exposicion Universal de Barcelona in 1888, a piece later acquired by the Museo de Bellas Artes de Barcelona and which was featured in La Ilustracion Artistica in 1891. The piece here described, on the other hand, may be the one listed in the catalogue of the National Gallery (now the National Museum of the Philippines) published prior to World War II and listed as exhibited at the Malacañan Palace.