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Vu Cao Dam Divinite Oil PAINTING on Canvas PROVENANCE Private Collection (acquired from the Michael Kizhner Fine Art Beverly Hills early 2000s) Vu Cao Dam, was born January 8, 1908, in Hanoi, the son of Vu Dinh Thi and Pham Thi Cuc. He was the 5th of 14 children of whom 9 reached adulthood. The family came from Trinh Xuyen (today Lien Bai) district of Vu Ban, province of Nam Dinh.Hanoi, Vietnam. A member of a large Catholic family, the artist was the fifth of fourteen children. His father Vu Dinh Thi (1864-1930) 4th of 5 children, was born in a family converted to Catholicism since the 18th century. The family situation being satisfactory, Vu Cao Dams father went to school at a very tender age and since early childhood became proficient at Chinese calligraphy. He also studied Latin, French and Spanish, but had a true veneration for Confucius and a great love and knowledge of Chinese literature. At the time, he was one of the few Vietnamese who perfectly mastered the French language and for that reason was sent to Paris by the Government at the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in 1889. He was conquered by French peoples kind and elegant manners and kept wonderful memories of his stay. Later on, he tried to convey to his children his admiration and taste for French Culture. At the age of 30 he married Pham Thi Cuc (1877-1931) then aged 17, also a Catholic. He was what French people used to call un lettr. He founded and directed all his life the School of Interpreters of Hanoi, which formed the Mandarins for the colonial Regime.
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