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Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916), brother to the creator of the famous automotive Bugattis, Ettore (1881-1947), was a sculptor who was best known for his animal works and human figures. Rembrandt's famous nephew who perished in an automobile testing accident was Jean Bugatti, son of Ettore. As a child Rembrandt worked in his father's atelier, an artist's workshop or studio, in Milan, Italy. In 1902 Rembrandt and his father, Carlo, moved to Paris, France where they lived in a community of artisans of all types. He was surrounded his whole life by master artists of all disciplines. The wildlife sanctuary Jardin des Plantes was nearby and Rembrandt spent much time there studying (often within the same walls as the animals and face-to-face) the movement and life of animals such as elephants, panthers, emus, hippopotami, wolves, camels, vultures, lions, and others. Rembrandt studied the Asian Elephants of the Antwerp Zoo from 1907-1909. The silver elephant mascot that resides on top the radiators leading the way for the seven foot long bonnet on Bugatti Royales was cast from one of Rembrandt's original sculptures. |