Fascinating exhibition space in Thai Hoa Palace

The exhibition space of the “Great Royal costume of the Annam court” painting collection in the East wing of Thai Hoa Palace

The collection, created by the painter Nguyen Van Nhan starting in February 1902, consists of 30 out of 54 watercolor paintings, each measuring 23.1 x 31.8 cm. These paintings depict in detail the costumes of the Nguyen Dynasty members during major court ceremonies.

Using realistic techniques, Nguyen Van Nhan accurately described the designs and decorative patterns of various costumes worn by the Emperor, Empress, Concubines, officials from the first to the ninth ranks, and lower-ranking individuals during the Grand Court ceremony and Nam Giao sacrifice ceremony.

This collection is a valuable historical, cultural, and artistic resource on the Nguyen Dynasty's royal costumes.

The painter Nguyen Van Nhan (1840 - 1917) was a clerk at the French Resident Superior's Office in Central Vietnam, and contributed to the graphics of “The Bulletin of the Friends of Hue Ancient Capital”. At the time of creating the “Great Royal costume of the Annam court” collection, he held the position of Bien tu (Secretary) of the Academy. He is considered one of the first Vietnamese painters to successfully combine Vietnamese portraiture with European painting techniques.

The exhibition space also showcases a collection of original decorative details and materials of Thai Hoa Palace, including tiles, bricks, and a wooden column segment, etc. These components were damaged and unusable during the process of preserving and restoring the palace in the period of 2021 - 2024. These artifacts help visitors and researchers better understand the architecture and history of the Nguyen Dynasty.