Pedro Rigual, also represented as P. Rigual or simply Rigual on many of his works, was a sculptor based in Paris, France, and an exemplar of the Art Nouveau movement. He was born in Spain to French
parents. Rigual is best known for busts and full-figure romanticised
depictions of young women with the flowing garb, elaborate hats and
flowers characteristic of the genre. Bronze, spelter and plaster
vintage casts of his works remain popular, comparatively affordable
collectibles among Nouveau fanciers (the metal ones were usually signed
in the mould, while the plaster ones were not but were hand painted,
making them collectible for a different reason). Most of his readily
available pieces are small figurines, though some larger pieces, around
half life-size, are also to be found.
Rigual's works, especially his most commercial and objet d'art pieces, were often derivative, especially of earlier works by more famous Nouveau sculptor Emmanuel Villanis. For example, Rigual's Cleopatre
('Cleopatra'), ca. 1900–1905, is based directly on Villanis's piece of
the same name, dating to ca. 1899 or possibly even 1890, featuring
essentially identical composition, curves and angles, but with some
details changed, and a different face – Rigual's is idealised and
youthful, while the Villanis originalis a straightforward portrait of
actress Sarah Bernhardt
dressed up for the role of Cleopatra (whom she played in two different
products in two different years). Rigual even borrowed Villanis's basal
inscription style, as did many other sculptors of the era.
