Victor Tardieu was born in Orlienas, a small town southwest of the French city of Lyons on 30 April 1870.  A talented young artist, Tardieu became a student at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (National Fine Art School of Lyon) before moving to Paris in 1889 to continue his artistic studies. In October 1890, he enrolled at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts (National School of Fine Arts in Paris), as well as studying in the studios of acclaimed artists Leon Bonnat and Albert Maignan. At the famed ‘Salon‘ of the Societe des Artistes Francais (Society of French Artists), Tardieu was awarded the national prize in 1902 for his vast canvas entitled ‘Travail’ ('Work') and received a two year travel award that allowed him to visit and paint in the European port cities of London, Liverpool and Genoa.

After volunteering for service during World War I, Tardieu won the Indochina Prize in 1920, which supported him to travel to Vietnam. While in Hanoi, he was commissioned to paint two large murals in his classical style, one for the main auditorium of the Indochina University and the other for the reading room of the Central Library. Settled in Hanoi, Tardieu soon appreciated the artistic skills of the local artists and developed a close friendship with young artist Nam Son (whose real name was Nguyen Van Tho). With encouragement from Nam Son, Tardieu lobbied both the French government and Indochina colonial government to open a school of fine arts modelled on the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In October 1925, Tardieu opened the Fine Arts College of Indochina (Indochina Fine Art School) in Hanoi as its first director and remained there until his death on 12 June 1937.

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