On September 26, 2023, in the auction “Asian painters, major works” of Aguttes, there was a rare work by Lê Phổ (1907-2001), descriptions:
LÊ PHỔ (1907-2001)
Still life with peonies and potted plant
Oil, signed and dated lower right
65.7×45.3 cm — 25⅞×18 in
Estimate: 450.000 – 750.000 EUR
The part of provenance was introduced by the auction house as follow:
- The work used to belong to Nguyễn Sáng’s private collection (given by his father according to family tradition around the 1940s).
- Private collection, France (bought by an art lover in the 1980s in Saigon, then brought to France and kept until today).
Regarding visual assessment: This painting was definitely created by Lê Phổ in the early period, and is rare and precious.
Regarding the provenance assessment: Quite clear and Ms. Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier confirmed that she had discussed specifically with the family that owns the work.
However, Viet Art View is still a little concerned about the fact that Nguyễn Sáng’s painting was purchased in Saigon in the 1980s. Viet Art View discussed with Ms. Charlotte and she said that she would arrange for Viet Art View to meet in person the family who owns the work.
On January 16, 2024, at the book launch “Modern art in Indochina” in Saigon, with the introduction of Ms. Charlotte, Viet Art View met a member in the family. Unexpectedly, the painting belongs to the collection of a family who has been familiar with Viet Art View for a long time.
That is the family of Collector T.V.H – who owns the very rare lacquer work “Mid-Autumn Festival at Đình Chèm” by artist Nguyễn Tiến Chung (Viet Art View produced the video of this painting in 2022).
In 2023, collector T.V.H called to discuss with Viet Art View that the family wants advice on valuation of a flower painting by Lê Phổ, oil, created around the 1930s. However, he revealed that, the painting is currently kept at his younger brother’s family in France, and has not been brought back to Việt Nam. He promised to send photos of the work and descriptions to Viet Art View to evaluate and advise collectors that Viet Art View knows.
After that, perhaps he was busy with other works so this story was not continued.
The member of the family who owns “Still life with peonies and potted plants” that Viet Art View met at the book launch is the granddaughter of Mr. T.V.H.
After that, Viet Art View and Mr. T.V.H had a conversation on the phone. Mr. T.V.H happily said that the painting that was auctioned in September, at Aguttes, was the painting he mentioned. But after that, he was busy with personal matters so he did not reconnect with Viet Art View. His younger brother (through another connection in France) met Ms. Charlotte. After the painting was carefully appraised by Ms. Charlotte, it was entered into the auction on September 26, 2023.
According to Mr. T.V.H, he bought this painting in Saigon in the 1980s following the recommendation of artist Nguyễn Sáng. Mr. T.V.H only remembers, around the 1980s, he met Nguyễn Sáng in Saigon. The two chatted and drank coffee together in a place “it seemed like the place there was a broken car in the middle of the yard, people often leaned against the side of the car like a chair to drink coffee.” Nguyễn Sáng said that his family had a precious painting by artist Lê Phổ. This painting at that time was inherited by a member of Nguyễn Sáng’s family, the painting might be sold without anyone knowing, which would be such a waste. He said that Mr. T.V.H should buy this precious painting. Listening to Nguyễn Sáng’s advice, Mr. T.V.H acquired the painting. After that, the painting was sent to France and has been kept in the family ever since. Mr. T.V.H still remains in Việt Nam.
As far as Viet Art View knows, Mr. T.V.H’s family is the third generation who collect paintings. Mr. T.V.H himself was close friends with artists Dương Bích Liên, Nguyễn Sáng, Bùi Xuân Phái… and collected quite a few works by artists of the Indochina time.
Life is always full of strange stories and strange connection opportunities. Those are also the wonderful things that make life interesting and attractive.
Written by Viet Art View
Copyrights belong to Viet Art View
