19th Century Masterpiece by Filipino Painter Juan Luna to be Auctioned at Dorotheum Vienna

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Vienna, Austria – October 8, 2025 – The Dorotheum, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious auction houses, is currently hosting a live auction at Palais Dorotheum featuring a remarkable 19th-century painting by celebrated Filipino master Juan Luna y Novicio. The auction, which runs until October 22, 2025, includes Luna’s exceptional oil on canvas titled “Lady in a Red Dress with a Manila Shawl (Una Manola)”, signed and dated Luna Paris (1886).

Measuring 112 x 61.5 cm and originating from a European private collection, this rare artwork is expected to fetch between EUR 100,000 and EUR 150,000. The painting has been catalogued and illustrated in the Ruiz Vernacci Archive (inventory no. VN-01488), photographed by Juan Laurent (1816–1886).

Born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, Philippines, Juan Luna (1857–1899) was a pivotal figure in Philippine art and a leading exponent of the 19th-century Romantic and academic styles. After studying at the Academy of Drawing and Painting in Manila, Luna honed his artistic skills in Madrid and Rome, where he worked under Spanish painter Alejo Vera. He later settled in Paris, where his style evolved toward lighter tones and depictions of everyday life, reflecting his transition from academic classicism to a more personal and expressive realism.

Painted in 1886, “Lady in a Red Dress with a Manila Shawl” portrays a “Manola”, a spirited woman from the popular classes of Madrid, identifiable by her distinctive attire and confident demeanor. The vibrant red Manila shawl (mantón de Manila)—a richly embroidered silk garment produced initially in China and traded through Manila—symbolizes the global cultural exchanges of the 19th century, connecting Asia, Europe, and Latin America through art and commerce.

The year this painting was created coincided with a pivotal period in Luna’s life. In 1886, he married Paz Pardo de Tavera, and their home in Paris became a gathering place for Filipino expatriates and intellectuals. This era marked both the height of Luna’s artistic achievements and a complex chapter in his personal life, which would later take a tragic turn.

Luna’s works continue to command international recognition for their technical mastery, emotional depth, and cultural significance. The Dorotheum auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire a museum-quality piece by one of the Philippines’ most iconic painters.

Auction Details

Artwork: Lady in a Red Dress with a Manila Shawl (Una Manola)
Artist: Juan Luna y Novicio (Badoc, Philippines 1857 – Hong Kong 1899)
Medium: Oil on Canvas, 112 x 61.5 cm
Estimate: EUR 100,000 – EUR 150,000
Auction Date: Until October 22, 2025
Location: Palais Dorotheum, Vienna
For more information: Dorotheum – Juan Luna y Novicio, 19th Century Paintings Auction