Cursed Portrait of a Lady

This painting of a woman holding a rosary was painted by the famous Filipino artist, Juan Luna and is believed to be cursed. Don’t worry, looking at the picture will not bring you bad luck (I took the picture myself during a visit to the museum). ?

The woman in the painting was initially identified as Juan Luna’s wife, Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera, whom he married in December 8, 1886. Juan Luna was very fond of his wife, but after the death of their infant daughter, he often accused his wife of having an affair. In a fit of jealousy, Juan Luna killed his wife and mother-in-law in September 22, 1892. Luna was arrested and charged with murder but was later acquitted on grounds of a crime of passion.

With that history, it was said that Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera’s soul possessed the painting. Others believed it was cursed or haunted because Juan Luna was working on it when he killed his wife and mother-in-law. The belief is, whoever comes to possess or own it will meet terrible misfortunes.

The first owner, Manuel Garcia was a successful businessman. He was forced to sell the painting because he went bankrupt. Betty Bantug Benitez bought it and she met a tragic road accident which caused her death. Tony Nazareno was next to own the painting. He also suffered bad luck and sudden illness. It was then sold to Imee Marcos, a member of a prominent political family in the Philippines who was believed to have suffered a miscarriage.

The painting was then donated to the National Museum and can be seen hanging in its gallery today.

Later, it was said that the woman in the famous painting “Mi Novia” was not Juan Luna’s wife, probably due to the fact that the woman in the painting looks nothing like Maria de la Paz Pardo de Tavera at all. The woman in the painting was said to be a Parisian prostitute.

Do you believe that the painting is indeed cursed or were the misfortunes met by its previous owners just pure coincidence?