RENOWNED VIETNAMESE ARTISTS AT BONHAMS CORNETTE DE SAINT CYR IN PARIS
Paris – Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr is honoured to offer the painting Battle of the River Bạch Đằng in the upcoming La Modernité Vietnamienne Online auction from 5 to 11 December 2024, attributed to the renowned Vietnamese painter Nguyễn Gia Trí (1908-1993).
Joan Yip, Senior Specialist for Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, said: “Nguyễn Gia Trí is regarded as one of the four masters of Vietnamese painting, as well as one of the most significant lacquer artists in history. His artworks are renowned for their delicate and high-quality materials such as this panel. The sale offers an important and impressive selection of Vietnamese works of art.”
The Battle of Bạch Đằng in 1288 was a pivotal maritime encounter between Đại Việt (modern-day Vietnam) and the Yuan dynasty (Mongol Empire). Prince Trần Quốc Tuấn (1228-1300), also known as Trần Hưng Đạo, led the Vietnamese forces in a strategic and innovative campaign. The underwater stakes placed in the Bạch Đằng River proved an effective trap for the Yuan fleet, resulting in its annihilation. This decisive victory for Đại Việt led to the capture of numerous ships and the neutralisation or detention of thousands of Yuan soldiers, effectively ending Kublai Khan's ambitions to conquer the region.
The battle is celebrated as a testament to Trần Hưng Đạo's military brilliance and remains a significant source of national pride in Vietnam, inspiring various artistic creations. The figures and motifs in this painting, consistent with historical records, confirm its representation of the famous naval battle on the Bạch Đằng River in the 13th century. It demonstrates the artist's mastery in creating large-scale scenes and a profound understanding of national history.
Nguyễn Gia Trí was born in 1908 in Chương Mỹ, near Hanoi. He graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine in 1936. His artworks are renowned for their delicate and high-quality materials, including paints, screens, and wooden boards. Most of his works depict the natural beauty and landscapes of Vietnam.
T'ang Haywen (1927-1991), Untitled I, ink and watercolour on paper Estimate: €6,000-8,000
A collection of six works by T'ang Haywen (1927-1991) will be offered at auction including a work on paper estimated at €6,000-8,000. Born in 1927 in Xiamen, China, T'ang Haywen, led a life marked by both artistic brilliance and personal tragedy. His formative years were shaped by his grandfather's teachings of Taoism, deeply influencing his artistic vision. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, his family fled to Vietnam. In 1948, T'ang moved to Paris to study medicine but soon abandoned it to pursue his passion for painting.
T'ang Haywen's artistic style is a unique fusion of Eastern and Western influences. He is renowned for blending the spiritual aesthetics of Chinese ink brush painting with the dynamic energy of Western abstract expressionism. His works often feature quick, expressive brushstrokes that capture the essence of natural scenes, embodying his belief that "painting is the embodiment of energy." His preferred medium was ink on paper, and he frequently worked in diptychs, creating harmonious compositions that synthesises his Taoist philosophy.
Despite his talent, T'ang struggled for recognition during his lifetime. He lived a bohemian lifestyle, often in financial hardship, and his health significantly deteriorated during his later years. After his death in 1991, the French state could not locate an heir to his estate, leading to the absorption of his assets, including his extensive collection of artworks. To manage and distribute these works, the French administration commissioned a series of auctions at Drouot between 1992 and 1993. Yves-Marie Leroux, a judicial auctioneer, organised these sales. The initial auction in 1992 was particularly significant, marking the first major public offering of T'ang's art since his death. Featuring a wide range of his pieces, from his signature ink paintings to his diptychs, this auction was instrumental in elevating his posthumous reputation.
The success of these auctions at Drouot was crucial in reviving interest in T'ang Haywen's art, ensuring that his innovative and spiritually resonant works were appreciated by future generations.
T'ang's legacy continues to flourish, with his works now held in major collections and exhibited worldwide, celebrating the profound beauty and spiritual depth of his art. The Guimet Museum in Paris hosted an exhibition featuring T'ang Haywen's works, T'ang Haywen: A Chinese painter in Paris (1927-1991), 6 March – 17 June 2024.
Le Pho (1907-2001), Les tulipes jaunes et oranges, 1975, oil on canvas from the Findlay Galleries, US, acquired directly from the artist circa 1975 (estimate: €75,000-95,000)
Two important paintings from the Findlay galleries acquired directly from the artists in the 70’s are offered at auction. Les tulipes jaunes et oranges by Le Pho (1907-2001) is a 1975 oil on canvas from the famous American Galleries, acquired circa 1975 (estimate: €75,000-95,000). From 1964, Le Pho's artistic trajectory during the Findlay gallery period, encompassed a fusion of post-Impressionist influences and his own distinctive artistic vision. In the late 1950s, Le Pho returned to oil painting, which allowed him to explore light through rapid, layered brushstrokes. This technique became a defining feature of his work during the Findlay period.
During his collaboration with Findlay, Le Pho produced a significant number of still lifes featuring bouquets. These arrangements, sometimes presented in Asian vases, were meticulously composed with vibrant colours. Additionally, Le Pho expanded the scale of his canvases during this period, enabling a comprehensive exploration of the depth and nuances inherent in his subjects. The expansive size of these canvases provides an ideal setting for his vibrant floral compositions, enhancing the visual impact and allowing viewers to appreciate the intricate details and lively colours.
Le Pho's 'Bouquet' paintings from the Findlay period are characterised by their realistic yet elegant expression. Celebrated for their vibrant colours, the finesse of the flowers, the sophistication of the details, the rhythm of the lines, and the symbolic meaning of the images reflect a balance between the wisdom of Eastern and Western civilisations. His work during this period not only resonated with the North American audience but also cemented his reputation as a master of floral compositions within the art world.
Jeunes amoureux dans le jardin by Vu Cao Dam (1908-2000), 1969 oil on canvas (estimate: €25,000-35,000
During the late 1960s, Vu Cao Dam experienced a transformative period in his artistic career while collaborating with the Findlay Galleries in the United States. This collaboration coincided with his residence in the idyllic South of France, specifically in the charming village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The picturesque setting not only provided him with a serene environment but also influenced his evolving artistic style. During this time, Vu Cao Dam's work began to reflect an increasingly liberal and expressive use of oil colours, seamlessly blending intense tones and artistic styles derived from Western art. His interactions with prominent artists such as Pierre Bonnard and Marc Chagall further enriched his creative vision.
Vu Cao Dam's distinctive style is a harmonious fusion of Eastern and Western artistic techniques. He skilfully employed a vibrant palette, incorporating shades of blue, pink, lilac, yellow, and white to create visually captivating compositions. For finer details such as the depiction of eyes and hair, black paint is predominantly used, adding depth and contrast to his works. His paintings often drew inspiration from the rich tapestry of Vietnamese poetry, including notable works such as Chinh Phụ Ngâm by Đặng Trần Côn and Kim Vân Kiều by Nguyễn Du, infusing his art with cultural and literary significance.
This painting Young Lovers in the Garden, created in 1969, is a quintessential example of Vu Cao Dam's artistic prowess during this period. The artwork portrays a serene and intimate scene featuring two figures dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire. The figure of a lady, seated gracefully in the foreground, is adorned in a light pink áo dài, exuding elegance and tranquillity. Behind her a male figure, dressed in blue, appears to be offering protection and affection. The abstract background of the painting evokes the lush and vibrant essence of a garden in full bloom.
Vu Cao Dam's masterful use of soft, harmonious colours and delicate brushstrokes creates a tranquil and contemplative atmosphere. The figures, representing young lovers, are depicted with a profound sense of tenderness and connection, capturing the essence of their emotional bond. This painting exemplifies the artist's remarkable ability to blend traditional Vietnamese themes with modernist techniques, resulting in a work that is both culturally rich and artistically innovative. Through Young Lovers in the Garden, Vu Cao Dam invites viewers to experience a moment of serene beauty and intimate connection, reflecting his unique artistic vision and the harmonious fusion of diverse influences.
Other highlights of the sale:
Vu Cao Dam (1908-2000), Les Chrysanthèmes, circa 1949, gouache on silk (estimate : €90,000-120,000)
Huynh Phuong Dong (1925-2015), Au village, 1988, lacquer on wood panel (estimate : €4,000-6,000)
Born in Binh Hoa-Gia Dinh (now Ho Chi Minh City) in 1925 and graduated from the Gia Dinh Fine Arts School in 1945, he then joined the army during the First Indochina War (1946-1954). After the victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, he continued his studies at the Hanoi Fine Arts College from 1957 to 1963. Over the course of the final three decades of Vietnam's protracted struggle for independence, Huynh Phuong Dong engaged in numerous brutal battles across a range of battlefields during the resistance wars against the French and the Americans. These conflicts resulted in considerable human and material losses, including the sacrifices of his comrades for the sake of national salvation. As a soldier and painter, Huynh Phuong Dong gained renown as a combat artist, chronicling the heroic and tragic moments of war in his sketches. These works have since become invaluable historical treasures.
Following the conclusion of the Vietnam War, Huynh Phuong Dong continued to create art that reflected the duality of the conflict and the subsequent period of peace. His post-war works often focused on themes of reconstruction, peace, and the daily lives of the Vietnamese people. He remained an active figure in the art community, dedicating himself to teaching and mentoring young artists whilst continuing to create notable works.
Bui Huu Hung (born 1957), Golden Light, 2007, lacquer on wood panel (estimate : €3,000-5,000)
In the field of contemporary Vietnamese art, Bui Huu Hung stands as a beacon of both tradition and modernity. Born in 1957 in Hanoi, Hung began his artistic journey at the age of 18, drawn to the ancient allure of lacquer painting. His search for authenticity led him to experience and engage with diverse aspects of Vietnam's rural life, where he immersed himself in the heritage of this intricate art form. Following his military service in 1978, Hung's quest for artistic excellence led him to the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. There he refined and mastered the techniques of lacquer painting.
The artist's use of gold foil in his paintings is not merely decorative. It imbues his work with a dynamic play of light, bringing textures and colours to life with a radiant glow. This technique, coupled with his innovative use of space, gives his subjects an ethereal quality, as if they existed beyond the temporal world.
About The Bonhams Network
Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.
Founded in 1793, Bonhams has representatives in more than 30 countries and operates flagship salerooms in London, New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong. In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.
In 2023, Bonhams achieved 14% growth with $1.14 billion in turnover. Recent important auctions and landmark single-owner collections, include the white glove sales of Sir Michael Caine: The Personal Collection, Alain Delon: Sixty Years of Passion; Sir Roger Moore: The Personal Collection; Personal Property of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and The Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art: A Century of Collecting. Other notable single-owner sales included The Estate of Barbara Walters: American Icon; The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; The Crown Auction: Props and Costumes and The Claude de Marteau Collection.
Top lots for 2023 include 1967 Ferrari 412P Berlinetta, Sold at Quail Lodge, US for US$30,255,000. Tipu Sultan’s Bedchamber Sword (sold in London for £14m – a world record for both an Islamic and an Indian object); Paul Signac (1863-1935), Sisteron, 1902. Sold for US$8,580,000 (estimate US$4-6 million), and Claude Monet (1840-1926), La Seine près de Giverny, 1888. Sold for US$6,352,500 (estimate US$4-6m), both from the Alan and Simone Hartman Collection; A Gilt Copper Alloy figure of Virupaksha, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Early 15th century. Sold for HK$37.9m (£4,060,326) in Hong Kong. Yoshitomo Nara (born 1959) Three Stars. Sold for HK$36,754,000 (£3,930,914), also in Hong Kong.
For more information about these auctions and others featured By Bonhams, please visit their site. Bonhams can also be found on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, and Pinterest.
