Lambert Escaler

LAMBERT ESCALER I MILÀ (Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona, 1874 – Barcelona, 1957).
Bust of a woman.
Patinated terracotta.
Signed.
Shows signs of age.
Measurements: 44 x 36 x 37 cm.

The bust up for auction brings together some of the most characteristic features of Lambert Escaler’s work: the idealized representation of the female figure, with delicate features and a serene expression, along with a profusion of wavy hair adorned with flowers and other naturalistic motifs.

Lambert Escaler was a multifaceted artist who distinguished himself as a playwright and author of comedies and one-act farces, but primarily for his work as a sculptor and decorator. He created various sculptural ensembles for buildings, polychrome terracotta pieces for decorating furniture, dioramas, nativity scenes, and more. At the height of the Modernist movement, his terracotta busts of women—such as the one presented here, with Symbolist and Art Nouveau influences—earned him great acclaim and commercial success. Part of his popularity stemmed precisely from the material used to create these works, as they were much more affordable than those made of marble or bronze. Escaler trained as a disciple of Josep Campeny and began his career as a playwright. He later created his first sculptures in the traditional realist style of the time, although his style soon evolved toward full-fledged Modernism. Lambert Escaler’s works are currently on display at the National Art Museum of Catalonia and the Museum of Popular Arts and Crafts in Barcelona, as well as in numerous private collections.