(VOVworld) - Some 40 sketches and eight oil paintings featuring General Vo Nguyen Giap and his home village are on display at an exhibition which opened in Hanoi on Tuesday.

A portrait sketch of General Giap by Van Duong Thanh

The art works, which are on public display for the first time, were created by the famous artist Van Duong Thanh, during her visits to the General’s house in 1999.

Thanh recalled that she had to use her time and the unique chance offered to capture his distinctive features.

She noted that among 25 sketches and five oil paintings, there were ten sketches drawn as a series, one every 15 minutes, one after another.

Sitting for a portrait: Painter Van Duong Thanh said the General narrated old memories as she sketched him. (Photo courtesy of Van Duong Thanh/vietnamnet)

Thanh shared some more information about the ongoing exhibition: “on display at this exhibition are my first sketches of General Giap 20 years ago, when I visited and stayed in his home many times. Every day I arrived at 2 p.m. and asked to sketch him. Now that General Giap has passed away, I want to bring the most beautiful images of the people’s General in his everyday life to the larger public, especially the younger generations who didn’t have the opportunity to really know him.”

An oil painting featuring President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap by Van Duong Thanh

The exhibition, which will run until June 6^th, will also be held in Quang Binh province, General Giap’s home town, and Ho Chi Minh City.