JOSE RIZAL'S 'JOSEPHINE SLEEPING' SCULPTURE SOLD FOR P31.2 MILLION

Jose Rizal's "Josephine Sleeping" broke the world record for the most expensive work of art by the national hero in Leon Gallery’s Auction (Photo courtesy of Philippine Star)

Jose Rizal's sculpture "Josephine Sleeping" depicting his last love, Josephine Bracken, was sold for P31.2 million at Leon Gallery's Kingly Treasures Auction 2024, breaking the world record for the most expensive work of art by a national hero.

According to Leon Gallery, “The Josephine sculpture was Rizal’s ‘Mona Lisa.’ It showed the most sensual and personal depiction of Josephine—the very love that lasted to the end. Perhaps for Rizal, she was the torch bearer of all he represents.”

Josephine Bracken has always been an enigma in Philippine history. It shows Josephine with her breast part covered only by her crossed arms and lower half covered by a blanket while sleeping on what appeared like a classical Roman couch.

Made of plaster of Paris, the sculpture was created during Rizal’s isolation and exile in distant Dapitan in Zamboanga, months before he would meet his martyrdom on Bagumbayan Field or today’s Luneta.

It was personally signed by the hero, ten bidders first joined the fray at the opening price of P7 million to own the piece that measured no more than 9-1/2 inches long and 2-3/4 inches wide. 

"Josephine Sleeping" was sold for P31,241,600 inclusive of buyer's premium. This surpass the record previously set by his bas-relief “The Filipino,” which was also sold at Leon Gallery in June 2018 for P17.5 million.

Apart from Rizal's sculpture, a bust of Andres Bonifacio and the last seal of the Katipunan were among the 157 items that were auctioned at Leon Gallery's Kingly Treasures Auction 2024.

Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco’s 1964 masterpiece, Tinikling No. 2 was the highlight of the weekend auction sold at P55.3 million which also broke a record. It was one of the few Botong’s masterpieces left in private collections after his untimely death in 1969.

Source: Philippine Star  

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