Hue character in paintings

Truyen Lo Ceremony by late painter Do Ky Hoang depicts a royal ceremony

“Court painter”

Although painting various themes, Ton That Dao (1910–1979), who used to be the first principal of Hue College of Fine Arts, in his painting career, is remembered by art lovers with paintings about Hue. In his house on Mac Dinh Chi Street (Phu Xuan Ward,) his descendants are preserving dozens of his works in various materials among which are his early paintings representing his style in the 1940s and 1950s.

Many of his paintings are those of various sizes about the scenery and the heritage of Hue which still impress viewers though they were painted dozens of years ago. The beautiful sites in Hue emerge one by one such as San chau Lang Tu Duc (The Ceremonial Courtyard at Tu Duc Mausoleum (1939), Phong canh Lang Minh Mang (Landscape of Minh Mang Mausoleum) (1940), Kinh thanh Hue (The Citadel of Hue) (1940), Nha Thuy ta Lang Tu Duc (The Waterside Pavilion at Tu Duc Mausoleum) (1942), and so on.

The scenery and historical relics are still there, but it is as if viewers were traveling backward. More than that, the painter, who graduated from the College of Fine Arts of Indochina, was trying to get across the message about the preservation of cultural values to younger generations. 

According to Phan Thanh Quang, lecturer at College of Arts, Hue University and also the artist’s nephew by marriage, Dao once taught drawing in the Imperial City in Emperor Bao Dai’s era. It was during this time that he had the opportunity to access magnificent architectural structures. With his innate gift, his paintings of Hue were born and many people started to call him “the court painter.” Through his landscape paintings, one can feel his deep affection for Hue. He painted dusks with mist and smoke covering ancient relics and the flora of the imperial land. Hue character can be seen through his brushwork, his use of colors, and the ancient frangipani trees in his paintings,” said Quang.

Hue Imperial City by late famous painter Ton That Dao

“The heritage within heritage”

Not only Ton That Dao, many later generations of artists in Hue pursued the theme of Hue culture and heritage, leaving numerous works that established their reputations. Among them are the two late painters Ton That Van and Do Ky Hoang, whose works are now collected by Hue Museum of Fine Arts.

Once exhibited, the pretty large oil painting depicting the mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc overwhelmed many viewers. Recently, this painting - described as a “heritage within heritage” - was displayed on the occasion of the 7th anniversary of Hue Museum of Fine Arts in late November, 2025. With his masterful brushwork, the late painter of the Ton That lineage depicted successfully the gracefulness and softness of ao dai set against the ancient scenery of the tomb of the fourth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. In the distance are poetic ancient structures such as Xung Khiem Pavilion, Du Khiem Pavilion, and rolling hills covered with pine trees and others big old trees.

Heritage and history enthusiasts are also captivated by the lacquer painting Le Truyen Lo (The Proclamation of Doctorates) by late artist Do Ky Hoang, donated to Hue Museum of Fine Arts by Hue Monuments Conservation Center in 2023. The painting consists of four panels, depicting the ceremony which was held solemnly in front of Ngo Mon Gate (Noon Gate) to honor newly appointed doctors in the Nguyen Dynasty. It is a historical story included into a single painting. The painting is not only to see the talent of the painter but also helps viewer to also gain a deeper understanding of a historical period and a royal court ceremony of the Nguyen Dynasty. 

Having had opportunities to access many works by renowned senior artists on the theme of Hue, Dr. Nguyen Thien Duc, painter, Chairman of the Hue City Fine Arts Association, said with deep emotion that it was his privilege to behold “heritage within heritage” - artworks depicting the heritage of Hue have now become heritage themselves. 

“Those renown masters left for their descendants works about Hue painted with their great visual artistic sensibility and extraordinary creativity. Those works are extremely precious because they record a particular historical period in an honest manner,” said the head of the Hue City Fine Arts Association. “They are “witnesses” of history which help viewers understand further their painters and hence love Hue more.”