Last of three parts

JUAN Luna, despite being dead for more than a hundred years, courted controversy when the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) bought from an auction his painting 'Parisian Life' for $1 million, or P46 million. People thought that was an unbelievable price for a Luna. But a mere boceto (draft) of his 'España y Filipinas' was sold for P130 million, the most expensive painting by a Filipino artist. Also, aside from the original at the Lopez Museum and Library, there is another version of the painting by Luna himself entitled 'España llevando a la gloria a Filipinas' at the Museo del Prado.