An oil painting by the Vietnamese King Ham Nghi has been sold for more than 8,800 euros or U.S. $12,962 at an auction in Paris. The painting, entitled Chieu Ta, which means Sunset, was made by the king between 1871-1943 during his exile in 1915. Art analysts say that the work is influenced by the famous French post-impressionist artist of the 19th century, Paul Gauguin.

A brief history about the king, King Ham Nghi is the eighth ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty who came into power in 1884 but ruled for only one year. But despite being in power for only a short time, he was able to lead the Can Vuong resistance movement against the French. He was arrested and exiled in Algeria in 1888. He died in 1943 and was buried in Aquitaine, France in 1965.

The auction was held by SVV Millon & Associes wherein about 80 people attended. Nguyen Van Phuc, Chief of the Center for Capital Hue Relics Preservation Office of Foreign Affairs, said the center decided to join the auction because it recognized the historical value of the painting. The City of Hue’s bid of 8,000 euros or U.S. $11,784 was provided by local authorities and sponsored by Viet kieu or overseas Vietnamese for the purpose of donating the painting to the center. But it wasn’t enough to compete with the 8,800 euros laid down by an unnamed bidder. The reserve price was between $1,100 and $1,700.

But Phuc, totally unperturbed by the outbid, has sought the help of the Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in the country to get hold of King Ham Nghi’s daughter Princess Nhu Ly, who owns the rights to most of the works by her father, to transfer the ownership of the painting and the king’s other art as well, to the City of Hue.