NGUYEN THANH LE (b. Long Xuyen 1919)

The Battle of Lang-Bac

Details
NGUYEN THANH LE (b. Long Xuyen 1919)
The Battle of Lang-Bac
signed "Thanh Le" (lower right)
carved lacquer on panel
90 x 180 cm
The artist was commissioned by President Nco Dinh Diem to do the present lot in the year 1955 and finally finished it in 1959. For a long time it was hung on the wall of the presidential palace in Saigon.
Provenance
Collection of Nco Dinh Diem, President of South Vietnam.

Collection of Ho Dinh, Paris.

Lot Essay

The present lot makes reference to the famous indigenous rebellion in the year 40-43 against the Chinese overlords. The movement were led by two courageous sisters by the name Trung Trat and Trung Nhi. The rebellion was finally put to end by the well known Chinese general Ma-Yuan.
There were some controversy over the death of the legendary sister. According to the Chinese, they are executed by the Chinese troops while the Vietnamese believed that the heroines had committed suicide.
The tragic end of the two sisters have transformed them to historic symbol as the nation's fight for independence. It is for this reason that the Battle of the Trung Sisters are constantly used as a referential point by nationalistic Vietnamese artists.

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