Nicolas Henni-Trinh Duc

Dr. Nicolas Henni-Trịnh Đức is a French-Vietnamese art historian and Sorbonne University PhD graduate who is rewriting the narrative of Vietnamese visual culture. Best known for his definitive, groundbreaking dissertation on Nguyễn Dynasty portraiture, his research masterfully bridges the gap between ancient visual traditions and modern artistic expressions. Beyond academia, he acts as a vital bridge for the global art market.

Through his popular platform, Vietnamese Art in Paris, he tracks down, documents, and elevates rare, hidden masterpieces scattered across European museums, private collections, and elite Parisian auction houses. By collaborating with top-tier international galleries and cultural institutions, he ensures that Vietnam’s rich artistic heritage receives the global recognition and authentic representation it truly deserves.

2021–Present : Vietnamese Art Consultant

Adam’s, Cabinet Ansas Papillon & de Léry, Gauchet Arts Asiatiques, Millon, Sotheby’s, etc.

2019–2023 : Guest Writer

A Magazine Curated By

In-depth interview with French artist Anh Duong.

2016–2022 : Contractual PhD Researcher

Sorbonne University × Collège des Ingénieurs

MBA – Science & Management

Research Assistant / Gallery Assistant

Galerie Gabrielle Laroche

Translation, research and writing assignments. Collector reception and advisory services, day-to-day gallery management. Participation in the 28th Biennale des Antiquaires.

Research & Communications

Exhibition Review: Lê-Phô, Mai-Thu, Vu Cao Dam: Pioneers of Modern Vietnamese Art …
2026

Article published in the Journal of Vietnamese Studies, Vol. 21, Issue 1

This critical review revisits and evaluates the strengths and limitations of the exhibition at the Cernuschi Museum (October 2024–May 2025).

Images of Memory: Insights into Contacts Between Vietnamese Art & Ancestor Worship
2025

Article published in ARTIFACT, No. 2

Examining the last century of Vietnamese art, this article explores how and why artists have drawn inspiration from ancestor worship, both in modern painting and contemporary installations.

Crossed Perspectives on the Imperial Court of Huế
2025

Roundtable, Salon Asiatique, Sorbonne University / CREOPS / Musée du quai Branly

Moderator of a discussion with curators on the challenges and advances in research in Vietnamese studies.

Portraiture in Vietnamese Art: Evolution of Uses, Techniques and Iconography
2025

PhD Thesis, Sorbonne University / CREOPS

This research examines the ubiquity of portraiture as an artistic genre and seeks to demonstrate the existence of an ancient portrait tradition in Vietnamese art. It focuses primarily on the evolution of portraiture under the Nguyễn dynasty (1802–1945), while also considering earlier and later periods, from the precursors represented by 7th-century Buddhist statues to revolutionary martyr figures in the 20th century.

From Ancestor Portraiture to Modern Painting: The Evolution of a Canonical Formula
2025

Lecture, Cernuschi Museum, Paris

On the occasion of the exhibition dedicated to the pioneers of modern Vietnamese art in France, this presentation examines the iconography and context of ritual portraiture to understand its adoption by the founding artists of a new school of painting.

On “Portrait of My Mother”
2025

Article published in SÈVE, No. 3

Analysis of the aesthetic and political significance of Nam Sơn’s painting, a landmark work displayed in the Indochinese Pavilion at the 1931 Colonial Exhibition.

Vietnamese Portraiture and Its Religious Dimension
2023

Roundtable, Salon Asiatique, Sorbonne University / CREOPS

As part of a discussion on portraiture in East Asia, this presentation explored the role of ancestor portraits at the heart of the ritual system of ancestor veneration.

A Modern Art Icon Presented for the First Time in 90 Years
2023

Lecture, Art Research Paris

The rediscovery of a major Vietnamese painting provides an opportunity to reassess its historical significance, both for Vietnamese art and for modern art more broadly, while examining its various technical and iconographic influences.

Portraits in Vietnamese Art: Objects of Worship or Collectibles?
2020

Article published in the Carnet de l’École Doctorale Histoire de l’Art et Archéologie 124

The 1930s marked the emergence of modern Vietnamese art on the international stage. This article examines how Vietnamese portraits were perceived by the Parisian art market of the period.

Migration & Narratives of Otherness
2020

Roundtable organized by Sorbonne Nouvelle / M2 CIIP

Public discussion on approaches to otherness through the lens of the migration experiences of people of color. Presentation of the methodologies I apply to study a culture that is simultaneously intimate and foreign to me.

Transformations of Vietnamese Portraiture (1874–1976)
2019

Master’s Year 2 Thesis, Sorbonne University / CREOPS

Ancestor portraits are central to Vietnamese altars. This thesis examines their origins, rooted in Buddhism and Confucianism, as well as their evolution from painted portraits to photography.

Sculpted Portraits in Vietnam (17th–18th Centuries)
2018

Master’s Year 1 Thesis, Sorbonne University / CREOPS

Under the Lê dynasty, pious donors were portrayed through sculptures placed within temples. This thesis examines the motivations behind this phenomenon, as well as the techniques and iconography involved.

Media

Mãi Mãi

Volume 1, 2025

Article by Dan Q. Dao: “Vietnamese Art, in Paris.”

The Vietnamese

Episode 104, 2022

Interview by Kenneth Nguyen. Available on YouTube and most major podcast platforms.

Vietnam Times

February 16, 2022

Article by Glen Macdonald: “Teaching the Intricacies of Vietnamese Art via Instagram.”