80 - JEF LAMBEAUX (Antwerp, Belgium, 1852 – Brussels, 1908).

JEF LAMBEAUX (Antwerp, Belgium, 1852 – Brussels, 1908). “Bust of a Young Man with His Hair Tied Back,” 1885. Patinated bronze on a marble pedestal. Signed and dated on the bronze. In good condition. Measurements: 58 x 33 x 25 cm (including the base); 50 cm (height of the sculpture). This female bust is a refined example of the sculptural work of Jef Lambeaux, a leading figure in late 19th-century Belgian sculpture, whose work combines naturalism with an intense expressive sensibility. The work depicts a young woman with delicate features, a slightly turned gaze, and hair gathered in a bun. The softness of her expression and the elegance of the composition reflect his mastery of sculptural portraiture and his interest in depicting the female figure. Jef Lambeaux trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where he was a student of Joseph Geefs. After spending part of his career in Paris and traveling to Italy, he achieved international recognition for his highly dynamic and expressive compositions. Among his most famous works are *The Kiss*, the Brabo Fountain in Antwerp, and the monumental relief *The Human Passions*, created for a pavilion designed by Victor Horta in Brussels. His work is housed in institutions such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent.