Painting by artist Vu Cao Dam auctioned for over 1.5 billion VND in London

As the first Vietnamese artwork to be auctioned at Sloane Street Auctions, “Property of a lady of title” was the item with the highest selling price among the artworks auctioned at Sloane Street Auctions on May 2.

The work “Property of a lady of title” was displayed at a solo exhibition of Vu Cao Dam in London in 1960 organized by the famous British gallery Frost & Reed.

Mr. Daniel Hunt, founder and CEO of Sloane Street Auctions, assessed “Property of a lady of title” as a rare work due to its complete history since its creation.

The painting was presented at Vu Cao Dam's first commercial exhibition in London in 1960 and was purchased by the current owner's father during the exhibition.

Mr. Hunt considers painter Vu Cao Dam as an Oriental Chagall (French painter, 1887-1985). Vu Cao Dam's works receive great attention in the international art market.

As one of the most influential Vietnamese painters of the 20th century, Vu Cao Dam belongs to the group of four European masters of Vietnamese painting including Pho, Thu, Luu, Dam (Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Le Thi Luu, Vu Cao Dam).

He was born in 1908 in Hanoi into a wealthy family and was the fifth of 15 children. The artist was influenced by French culture from a very young age, because his father Vu Dinh Thi (1864-1930) was a scholar with extensive knowledge of French culture.

Oil painting “Property of a lady of title” by artist Vu Cao Dam. (Photo: Sloane Street Auctions/VNA)

Graduated from the Indochina College of Fine Arts, Vu Cao Dam was taught by French painters Victor Tardieu and Joseph Inguimberty. In 1931, he went to Paris on a scholarship from the Louvre Academy.

In 1949, he and his family moved to the south of France. Life there and the influence of the painter Chagall, who lived about 1km from Vu Cao Dam's house, were clearly reflected in his works.

Mr. Hunt said that Vietnamese art is increasingly recognized globally, gradually dominating the world art market over the past 20 years. Painters of the Indochina period such as Vu Cao Dam are especially appreciated as their works are increasingly popular and valuable.

Sloane Street Auctions is based in London and specialises in auctions of European masters, furniture and artwork, as well as impressionist art, contemporary art and photography.

Not only interested in Vietnamese art, Sloane Street Auctions also joins hands to help disadvantaged Vietnamese children through supporting Facing the World (FTW), a British charity operating in Vietnam since 2007, supporting about 10,000 surgeries for children with congenital facial deformities each year.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tranh-cua-hoa-si-vu-cao-dam-duoc-dau-gia-hon-15-ty-dong-tai-london-post877041.html