Ginette Bingguely-Lejeune was born in Paris, France, in 1895. She immigrated to London, England in 1923 when she married an an English clockmaker. Bingguely-Lejeune primarily made portrait busts, including medals, of famous individuals in the UK and France, such as the English writer, Rudyard Kipling, members of the aristocracy, and René Cassin, one of the founders of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Sculptor Ginette Bingguely-Lejeune was born in Paris, France, in 1895. She was educated in France, where one of her teachers was Jean-Georges Achar. In 1923, she married an English clockmaker, Henry Bingguely, and moved to Kensington, London. She continued her studies there, this time under the sculptor Charles Doman. She remained in London throughout the Second World War, where she exhibited regularly, including with Women’s International Art Club ( (1940). She then lived for a time at Fairlight in Sussex, but later returned to continental Europe. During the war, she regularly visited military hospitals.
Bingguely-Lejeune focused on bronze busts and medals of famous individuals, including Rudyard Kipling, Lord Nuffield, Emperor Haile Selassie, General de Gaulle, Prince Edward of Kent, Lord Athlone, and René Cassin, French jurist and one of the founders of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (of Jewish descent). She did not always work from life. For example, her bust of Kipling - one of her most famous works which was donated to the National Portrait gallery by the Kipling Society in 1938 - was created without her ever meeting him; instead, she worked from sketches she made while they were on the same boat crossing the Channel. Similarly, her bust of Lord Nuffield wearing his robes of DCL of Oxford University began with sketches she made at a dinner party. After Lord Nuffield found out via a friend that Bingguely-Lejeune was working on his bust he granted her a few sittings. This was, somewhat patronisingly described in 1939 as ‘Lord Nuffield’s kindness to a woman sculptor in giving up his time to sit for her,’ (Nottingham Journal, 1939, p. 4) under the title ‘How he Helped Woman Sculptor’. Her style is characterised by a commitment to realism, with an acute attention to detail in facial features, particularly the rendering of wrinkles, hair texture, and expression. There is a strong emphasis on character and psychological depth, conveyed through the meticulous shaping of the subject’s gaze and the subtle interplay of light and shadow on the surface. The use of high-relief elements enhances the dynamism of the piece, making it appear almost lifelike. The polished yet texturally varied finish suggests an interest in both naturalism and idealisation, striking a balance between faithful representation and a slightly heroic or monumental quality. Besides portraits, her sculptural compositions include charming figurative works such as The Child with the Seashell, The Breeze, Greater Wings than the Nest, powerful heroic statues, such as Forward to Freedom and The Immortal Flame, or nudes.
Throughout her career, Bingguely-Lejeune maintained a connection with both the English and the French art worlds, with her works regularly appearing at both the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy of Arts in London. In the UK, she also exhibited at the Fine Art Society, the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, and the Royal Society of British Artists. She was a member of the Société des Artistes Français and regularly exhibited with them between1923 to 1932 and in 1948 was honoured with the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest civilian honour, at a reception that took place in London.
Ginette Bingguely-Lejeune died in Corseaux, Switzerland in 1969. Two of her works are in public collections in the UK. Her bust of Rudyard Kipling (1936–1937) is part of the collection at the National Portrait Gallery in London, while her bust of Lord Nuffield (1937) is housed at Nuffield College, University of Oxford. The information available on Bingguely-Lejeune is limited, and the Ben Uri Research Unit welcomes contributions from researchers or family members who might know more.