BUGATTI, Rembrandt - b. 1884 Milano, d. 1916 Paris

Italian sculptor and draughtsman, son of Carlo Bugatti. Rembrandt Bugatti produced his first works in metal and wood at the age of 15 in his father’s studio. He subsequently studied under Paolo Troubetskoy, from whom he learnt modelling forms directly using ‘thumbstrokes’. The majority of his works was cast in bronze using the lost-wax technique.

When the Bugatti family moved to Paris c. 1904, Rembrandt met the businessman Adrien Hébrard, who was responsible for casting many of his sculptures. In 1907 Rembrandt moved to Antwerp; at the city zoo, he was provided with a studio where he could make his animal sculptures. These were included in many exhibitions, and some were acquired by the administrators of the zoo as the nucleus of their newly established animal museum.

In addition to his sculptures, Rembrandt Bugatti also produced drawings and caricatures of considerable quality. A combination of financial problems and depression led him to commit suicide in Paris in 1916.