Work by late Vietnamese painter among million-dollar paintings sold at auction

The Canards mandarins et lotus (Mandarin Ducks and Lotus) was sold during the auction that offered pieces from the personal collection of Vietnamese Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Loc (1914-1990) – a scholar and collector who befriended the artists he admired and lived surrounded by art. The ink-and-gouache-on-silk painting earlier was evaluated to gain the price between 300,000-500,000 euros ($320,000-534,000).

Canards mandarins et lotus (Mandarin Ducks and Lotus) by Le Pho was sold for 1.2 million euros (US$1.28 million), becoming the most expensive piece of the auction Magnificence and Regality by Sotheby’s Paris on November 7 (Photo courtesy of Sotheby's)

Executed circa late 1930s, the silk masterpiece was painted during the pinnacle of Le Pho’s career. The 175cm by 69.5cm painting highlights the artist’s strong affinity to Chinese culture and aesthetics that have historically influenced Vietnamese culture for many years.

Mandarin Ducks and Lotus features a pair of mandarin ducks swimming around the lotus from an aerial perspective. The lotus flower is an important symbol in Vietnamese culture, signifying purity, serenity and optimism, as well as purity of body, mind and spirit, in Buddhist literature.

“Le Pho delineates the forms with soft, impressionistic brushstrokes, a style that he developed as he studied and admired the works of Post-impressionists such as Pierre Bonnard. The painting is tinged with a sense of nostalgia and romance as the artist employs a sepia palette for the background. Though the artist uses opaque pigments to paint his subjects, the delicacy of the smooth silk surface enhances the lightness of his strokes, creating an ephemeral quality to the composition. The present lot radiates a mesmerizing sense of tranquillity owing to the artist’s harmonious use of colours, gentle touch and superior brushwork,” the auction house describes the painting.

Femme assise (Repose) by Nguyen Tuong Lan was sold for 444,500 euros ($475,000) – the second most expensive piece at the auction Magnificence and Regality by Sotheby’s Paris on November 7 (Photo courtesy by Sotheby's)

The Magnificence and Regality auction also offered other works by famous Vietnamese painters.

The painting Femme assise (Repose, c.1930-40) – the only work by Nguyen Tuong Lan available at the auction, was sold for 444,500 euros ($475,000) – the second most expensive of the auction.

Other works by Le Pho, Femme au voile (Lady with The Veil, c.1940s), L'heure du thé en famille (Family Teatime, c.1960s), and Mère et enfant avec iris (Mother and Daughter with Iris, c.1970s), were sold for 406,400 euros ($434,000), 279,400 euros ($298,000), and 203,200 euros ($217,000), respectively.

La Bataille de Coqs (Cockfight) by Vu Cao Dam was sold for 393,700 euros ($420,000) (Photo courtesy by Sotheby's)

Artworks by Vu Cao Dam – one of the four most renowned Vietnamese artists based in France, together with Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu and Le Thi Luu, also were available at the auction. His La Bataille de Coqs (Cockfight, c.1950-53) and Liliums (c.1940s) were sold for 393,700 euros ($420,000) and 190,500 euros ($203,000).

The nine-part lacquer panel Scène de marché dans un village (Market scene in a village, c.1950) by Tran Minh Tho was sold for 228,600 euros ($244,000).

The auction offered works created between around 1935 and 1970 in various forms, including delicately painted silk masterpieces, magnificent lacquer screens and exceptional examples of Vietnamese modern art.

VNS