King Hàm Nghi's paintings auctioned in France. VNA photo

PARIS – Nineteen paintings by King Hàm Nghi were sold for EUR330,000 (US$352,000) in total in an auction in Paris, France, on September 22.

Hàm Nghi was the 8th King of the Nguyễn Dynasty (1802–1945), but reigned for only one year (1884-1885).

After the failure of a movement against the French colonial rule, he was captured and exiled to Algeria, then a colony of France, on December 12, 1888.

The painting 'Canh dong lua my' sold for EUR32,000.

While exiled in Algiers, he learned painting and sculpture techniques and dedicated his entire life to intense artistic activities as a painter and a sculptor.

According to the French auction house Lynda Trouvé, this is the first time that such a large number of paintings by the late king is offered for sale. They belonged to Henri Aubé, a French military officer who was stationed in Hà Nội between 1907 and 1909, and were discovered in the attic at his home.

An overview of the auction. VNA photo

During a visit to Vietnam, a grandchild of King Ham Nghi, Dr Amandine Dabat, revealed that there are about 100 of his paintings that are still preserved. VNA/VNS