Jean Lambert-Rucki

Jean Lambert-Rucki (1888–1967) was a Polish avant-garde artist, sculptor, and graphic artist. He was best known for his participation in the Cubist, Surrealist and Art Deco movements. He exhibited at the 1913 Salon d'Automne in Paris; from 1919 was represented by both Léonce Rosenberg at the Galerie de l'Effort Moderne and the art dealer Paul Guillaume. In March 1920, Lambert-Rucki exhibited at the second exhibition of la Section d'Or, Galerie de La Boétie, Paris, and participated in the first exhibition of l'Union des Artistes Modernes, where he continued to show his works. He worked with diverse styles and media, at times he was influenced by the tribal art of Africa. Lambert-Rucki also became well known for his Cubist cityscapes.

Early life

Born in 1888 in Kraków, Poland, Jean Lambert-Rucki was the youngest of a large family. He was eleven years old when his father died suddenly. A child prodigy, he earned a living by making portraits that surprised the Bourgeoisie of Kraków.

In 1920 Lambert-Rucki married Monique Bickel (born 1892), who was a pupil of the sculptor Auguste Rodin. Their daughter Mara Rucki was born 7 April 1920.

In 1930 Lambert-Rucki became one of the pioneers of Modern Religious Art. In 1931, he became an active member of the Union des Artistes Modernes (UAM), where he exhibited alongside René Herbst, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (Le Corbusier), Robert Mallet-Stevens, the architect Georges-Henri Pingusson, Jean Fouquet (for whom he made jewelry), in exhibits that emphasized design over decoration.

Jean Lambert-Rucki became a naturalized French citizen in 1932.

In 1933, he left his Montparnasse studio for one at 26 Rue des Plantes, Paris. In May 1943, he participated in a group exhibition of artists in the "2ème groupe" at Galerie Drouant-David in Paris.

He remained solitary throughout his life, fleeing the world with its demands and its vanities. His raison d'être was the incessant need to create something "new".

Death In 1967 at the age of 80, he died at his home at Rue des Plantes, Paris, France from a vascular disease.

Exhibitions during his life-time 1913, Salon d'Automne 1919, Salon d'Automne, Léonce Rosenberg (Galerie de l'Effort Moderne) and with the dealer Paul Guillaume 1920, the second exhibition of la Section d'Or, Galerie de La Boétie and the Salon des Indépendants 1923, one man show at Galerie de l'Effort Moderne 1925, l'Hôtel du Collectionneur and the Fumoir, with Jacques-Emile Ruhlmann and Jean Dunand 1932, presents a religious sculpture at the Crémaillère that provokes a scandal that forced him to remove his work from the exhibition 1934, first manifestation d'Art Sacré at l'Hôtel des Ducs de Rohan 1936, participates at the manifestation d'Art Sacré, l'OGAR (Office Général d'Art Religieux), 241 bd St Germain 1937, Exposition Internationale, Pavillon de l'U.A.M. He creates l'Accueil des Artistes Modernes, a sculpted wall at the entrance, and several masks and sculptures inside the pavillon. He presents Bonhomme Lambert at the Pavillon de la Lumière. He participates in the Pavillon de la Solidarité Nationale and makes jewelry for Jean Fouquet. The French State commissions a sculpture entitled l'Homme au pardessus. 1938, Exposition de l'Art Sacré, Pavillon Marial 1942, Solo exhibition at Galerie Drouant-David, where he exhibits paintings and sculpture 1943, exhibits surrealist drawings rue d'Anjou. Exhibition "2ème groupe", Galerie Drouant-David 1947, Exposition de la Céramique Française Contemporaine, Baden-Baden, then in Vienna 1949, Salon des Artistes-Décorateurs 1953, solo exhibition Galerie La " Gentilhommière ", Boulevard Raspail 1954, solo exhibition Galerie Drouant-David, 52 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré 1958, exhibition Cairo, Egypt

Selected works La visite, 1919, 65 x 92 cm, Musée des Années 30, Boulogne-Billancourt, Dépôt du Centre Georges Pompidou, 1995 Composition, 1919, oil on canvas, 56.5 × 47 cm, Musée d'Évreux Les Promeneurs, 1924, oil on panel, 33.5 × 46.5 cm Musée d'Évreux Several works at the Musée départemental de l'Oise Saint Sebastien, 1950, sculpted wood, monochrome paint, 181 x 48 x 25 cm, Mont-de-Marsan; musée de la ville

Selected literature Artur Winiarski, Jean Lambert-Rucki, Warsaw, 2017 J. Lambert-Rucki, Marc-André Ruan, Jean-Pierre Tortil, 1988 Lambert-Rucki: A Lyrical Surrealist, Soufer Gallery, 199? Gargallo, Csáky, Lambert-Rucki: exposition Mairie de Paris, Musée Bourdelle, Pablo Gargallo, Jozsef Csáky, 1977 Jean Lambert-Rucki, 1888–1967: vente, Hôtel Drouot, salle 1, M A Ruan, J P Tortil & Jacques de Vos, 1971 Jean Lambert-Rucki: présentation d'une donation, 11 octobre 1997-18 janvier 1998, Musée départemental de l'Oise, Beauvais, 1997 Jean-Lambert-Rucki (1888–1967): Un sculpteur au service de l'Eglise (1938–1967), Alain Choubart, 1992 Atelier Jean Lambert-Rucki et Mara Rucki, Hôtel Drouot, 1981 Jean Lambert-Rucki : et les modernes classiques : Galerie Franka Berndt Bastille, Paris, du 13 septembre au 31 octobre 1990, Hôtel des ventes (Enghien-les-Bains, France), 1990 Lambert-Rucki et les modernes classiques: Exposition. Franka Berndt Bastille, Galerie (Paris), 1990 Alexandre Vialatte au miroir de l'imaginaire, 2003 Collection Mara Et Léano Rucki, 25 Sculptures de Jean Lambert-Rucki. Mara Rucki, Léano Rucki, Tajan SA., 2003 Lambert-Rucki [1888–1967]: collection Jacques De Vos et à divers amateurs; Art nouveau, art déco : vente, Paris, Drouot-Montaigne, 9 mars 1994, commissaires-priseurs, Mes Christian de Quay, Delavenne et Lafarge, Jacques De Vos, 1994 Art contemporain: Paul Kallos, né en 1928, bel ensemble de 18 oeuvres de 1954 à 1984, ensemble exceptionnel d'oeuvres de Jean Lambert-Rucki, 1888–1967, 12 sculptures, épreuves d'artistes, 2 tableaux provenant de la famille de l'artiste : vente, Paris, Drouot-Montaigne, 14 avril 1992, commissaire-priseur, Me Pierre Cornette de Saint-Cyr Paul Kallos, Jean Lambert- Rucki, 1992 L'Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac et ses bâtisseurs, Claude Bergeron, Geoffrey Simmins, Jean Rochon (dom.), 1997 History of Modern Design: Graphics and Products Since the Industrial Revolution, David Raizman, 2003 Modern Figurative Paintings, 1890–1950: The Paris Connection, Martin Wolpert, Jeffrey Winter, 2004 Collection Sjöberg: Jean Lambert-Rucki, Roger Bezombes, Henri Sjöberg, Drouot, 2002 The Originality of the Avant-garde and Other Modernist Myths, Rosalind E. Krauss, 1986 Marcel Breuer and a Committee of Twelve Plan a Church: A Monastic Memoir, Hilary Thimmesh, Marcel Breuer, 2011 Jean Dunand: his life and works, Félix Marcilhac, 1991, 橋本指輪コレクション: Historic Rings, Diana Scarisbrick, 2004 Liturgical Arts, 1959 International Art Market, 1983 Library Catalog of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.). Library, 1987 Jean Lambert-Rucki, 1888–1967, Jacques de Vos, Paris, 1991 Art Deco, Judith Miller, 2007

Les Africanistes, peintres voyageurs: 1860–1960, Lynne Thornton, 1990 History of art, Kirsten Bradbury, 2005 The encyclopedia of art deco, Alastair Duncan, 1998 Christie's Art Deco, Fiona Gallagher, Simon Andrews, Michael Jeffery, 2000 Art Deco, Victor Arwas, 2000 Art deco 1910–1939, Tim Benton, Charlotte Benton, Ghislaine Wood, 2003 The Andy Warhol collection: sold for the benefit of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Volume 1, Andy Warhol, John L. Marion, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, 1988 20th Century Decorative Arts, Sotheby's (Firm), 1990 The design encyclopedia, Mel Byars, 2004 Rings: Through the Ages, Anne G. Ward, 1981 Art, Design, Photo, Alexander Davis, 1973 "Primitivism" in 20th century art: affinity of the tribal and the modern, Volume 2, William Stanley Rubin, Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.), 1984 Art Deco Interiors: Decoration and Design Classics of the 1920s and 1930s, Patricia Bayer, 1998 Autour d'un piano de Jean Dunand: sculpteur, dinandier, laqueur, 1877–1942, Jean Dunand, Galerie Jacques de Vos, Claire Bussac, 1991 Art Deco, Eva Weber, 2004 Collection Mara et Léano Rucki: 25 sculptures de Jean Lambert-Rucki, Félix Marcilhac, 2003 Kisling and his friends, Barbara Brus-Malinowska, Jerzy Malinowski, Muzeum Narodowe w Warszawie, 1996

Catalogue raisonné A Catalogue raisonné of the works of Jean Lambert-Rucki is being prepared by the Comité Jean Lambert-Rucki (an association created 29 October 2008 and declared in the Journal Officiel 12 November 2008).