Bidspirit auction | Juan Luna Novicio (1857–1899) –

Juan Luna Novicio (1857–1899) – Study for an Angel - Pencil with touches of white lead on paper. Signed and underlined in capital letters in the lower right corner: ‘LVNA’. Dimensions: 428 x 321 mm. This drawing depicts a young angel kneeling on his left leg while delicately holding a piece of fabric between the fingers of his right hand. His adoring attitude, expressed by his body posture in harmony with his left hand and arm, indicates that this sketch is a partial idea for a larger composition. It must be related to a definitive and hitherto unknown painting, Adoración del Niño Jesús (Adoration of the Child Jesus) by Juan Luna, if the Filipino painter dealt with this subject. A linear sketch of a bed can be seen under the angel's hands. On the other hand, this drawing could be a simple study from the artist's Italian period, judging by the materials used and the style of his signature, both characteristic of his early training under his teacher Alejo Vera y Estaca (1834-1923). Provenance: Private collection