Le Collier (The Necklace) by celebrated Vietnamese artist Mai Trung Thu (1906-1980). Le Collier (TheNecklace), carrying an estimate of 2,500,000 – 4,000,000 HKD (320,000 - 511,000USD), was formerly in the private collection of Federico Möller de Berg(1899-1991), a renowned Uruguayan sculptor who acquired it directly from Thu in1948 – the year the two artists first met in Paris.
Federico studied at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére andbelonged to a circle of artists who shared and admired each other’s works. Itwas there Federico came across Thu’s paintings.
Fascinated by Thu’s art and the tenderness in which he approachedhis subjects, Federico later exchanged his two sculptures for Thu's paintings,and one of the two pieces was Le Collier.The work remained in Federico’s personal collection and was brought back toUruguay where he treasured it for the rest of his life.
The painting portrays a white-dressed Vietnamese woman serenely reclining witha red beaded necklace in hand, admiring it while at the same time seeminglythinking of someone associated with it. It is a rare work of the artist notonly for its size – measuring 55 x 71cm – but also the richness of thesubject’s emotion, the grace in her posture, and the striking composition.
Art critic Ngo Kim Khoi said: “For those with an affection for Vietnamese art,in particular the silk paintings of Mai Trung Thu, this young woman's purebeauty within the canvas is bound to leave them in awe. Many may findthemselves yearning to possess this masterpiece, allowing them to continue toadmire its delicacy.”
Joan Yip, senior specialist of Bonhams Southeast Modern and Contemporary AsianArt, commented: “This painting has such a heart-warming story and reveals thepure admiration between two very different artists, who first met in Paris anddeveloped a touching admiration for each other’s work. Kept privately in thecollection of Federico Möller de Berg for more than 70 years, the painting is aunique work by Mai Thu and we expect a lot of interest from collectors as itcomes fresh to the market on 4 October in Hong Kong.”
Mai Trung Thu was born in the northern city of Hai Phong into alarge and honourable family of literati.
In 1924, as the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine wasestablished through the collaboration of the Frenchman Victor Tardieu and theVietnamese Nguyen Nam Son, Mai Trung Thu passed the entrance exam and becameone of 10 students in the first class (1925-1930).
Thu met with great success with silk painting, one of the mostdistinctive materials of Vietnamese painting.
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest and mostrenowned auctioneers, offering fine art and collectables, collectors’ cars anda luxury division, which includes jewellery, designer fashion, watches, wine,and whisky./.
VNA
