Words of Architect Ngo Manh Duc, Son of Le Thi Luu to Boi Tran and Her Work of Art


Ngo Manh Duc
Architect, Artist Le Thi Luu’s Son

I’m very happy to be able to express my admiration seeing your work


Ngo Manh Duc with Boi Tran’s Lacquer
Lady, Boi Tran (1957), signed ‘Btran’ (lower left), lacquer on panel, 120 x 80 cm. (47 1/4 x 31 1/2 in.)

Hello Boi Tran, I had the pleasure of contemplating your work which I found magnificent and I’m very happy to be able to express my admiration seeing your work. I know that you are amongst the great, very great artists, especially Vietnamese. And it is a great privilege and honour to send you a little friendly hello.

Ngo Manh Duc


Ngo Manh Duc (B. 1941), Le Thi Luu’s Son

Ngo Manh Duc was born on 1 January 1941, which he enunciates as “1.1.41” with his constant smile, speaking softly and slowly which never fails to grab the listener’s attention. He was brought up in a wonderful atmosphere of painters and intellectuals (often of Vietnamese origin), and this only helped to cement the ideals and traditions of family, close friends and kinships. Living at the heart of the Périgord region in France, where Christie’s described as a sanctuary in The Ngo Manh Duc Collection or The Homage of a Son to His Mother, a magnificent building restored and amplified by a man, a trained architect. A place radiating with a contagious serenity. A place ideal to Ngo Manh Duc’s testimony which he wants to share.

Le Thi Luu (1911-1988) – Ngo Manh Duc’s Mother

1. La Confidence (Women Confiding), Le Thi Luu (1911-1988), signed ‘leluu’ (lower right), ink and gouache on silk, 41.5 x 33 cm. (16 3/8 x 13 in.), Painted circa. 1938
2. Portrait de Mme Anh Tran (Portrait of Ms Anh Tran), Le Thi Luu (1911-1988), signed ‘le thi luu’ (lower left), gouache on silk, 65.5 x 54.5 cm. (25 3/4 x 21 1/2 in.), Painted in 1980
3. Pivoines (Peonies), Le Thi Luu (1911-1988), signed ‘le thi luu’ (lower right), ink and gouache on silk, 35.5 x 27 cm. (14 x 10 5/8 in.), Painted in 1970, one seal of the artist
4. Port de Honfleur (Honfleur Harbor), Le Thi Luu (1911-1988), signed ‘lethiluu’ (lower left), oil on canvas, 40.5 x 33 cm. (16 x 13 in.), Painted in 1962
5. Jardin d’Hiver (Winter Garden), signed ‘le thi luu’ (lower left), oil on canvas, 65 x 92 cm. (25 5/8 x 36 1/4 in.), Painted in 1964

Portrait of Ngo Manh Duc by Mai Thu, signed and dated ‘MAI THU 1942’ (lower left), pencil on paper, 19 x 12.5cm. (7 1/2 x 4 7/8 in.), Painted in 1942.
Portrait of Ngo Manh Duc by Le Pho, signed in Chinese, signed ‘Le Pho’ (lower right), pencil and pastel on paper, 30.5 x 43.5 cm (12 x 17 1/8 in.), Painted in 1941

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