The silk piece, Vêtement Sacré De La Pagoda (Sacred Attire of the Pagoda), sold for 1,062,720 euros, far surpassing its estimate of 300,000–500,000 euros at the auction Painters of Asia: Modern Vietnamese Art on May 13.

Measuring 63.8cm by 82.5cm, the piece was created with ink and colours on silk and bears the painter’s signature and date in the lower corners. The painting depicts a quiet worship space. At its centre, a young woman sits before an altar, seemingly sewing a monk’s robe. Yet her gaze drifts away from her hands, her expression contemplative, adding a layer of emotional depth to the serene scene.

According to fine arts researcher Ngo Kim Khoi, this is one of Nam Son’s most important works, produced during a period when he had reached full artistic maturity in silk painting.

“The interplay of light, colour and stillness in the composition moves the viewer deeply. The work also has a well‑documented provenance: it was held by the French Ministry of Colonies in 1933 before entering a private French collection, where it has remained ever since,” he said.

Nam Son (1890–1973), born Nguyen Van Tho in Hanoi, is recognised as a foundational figure of modern Vietnamese art. Together with French painter Victor Tardieu, he co‑founded the École des Beaux‑Arts de l’Indochine (now is the Vietnam University of Fine Arts), which nurtured generations of leading Vietnamese artists.

As a teacher, he encouraged students to draw on national identity through traditional materials such as lacquer, silk and water‑based pigments, and to explore themes rooted in folk culture. He played a pivotal role in training many of the great names of Vietnamese fine arts, including Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Vu Cao Dam and Nguyen Gia Tri – all of whom have achieved million‑dollar results at international auctions in recent years.

Over his career, Nam Son created around 400 works across diverse media, from oil and silk to watercolour and Chinese ink.

The May 13 auction also featured works by other notable Vietnamese painters, including Vu Cao Dam, Le Pho, Le Van De, Mai Trung Thu, Hoang Tich Chu, Tran Dac and Vu Dinh Ngoc.

Vietnamese paintings fetch impressive prices at Sotheby’s art auction

VOV.VN - Vietnamese fine art has continued to captivate global collectors, as several works by pioneering artists from the Indochina College of Fine Arts achieved remarkable results at Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Day Auction held in Hong Kong (China) on September 29.