Rembrandt Bugatti

b. 1884 and died 1916

Bugatti is known as one of the most prominent Italian sculptors of the 20th century. Bugatti was raised in Milan, into a notably artistic family, with his uncle being a painter and his father a sculpture. His older brother was Ettore Bugatti who became one of the world's most famous automobile manufacturers.

Bugatti took an early interest in sculpture and began woodcarvings in his early teens and then eventually began working with bronze. He went to Paris to study art when he was 20 and then onto Antwerp where he was involved with the art group “Antwerp Academy.” In Antwerp he had access to an international acclaimed zoo that ultimately inspired him to make his prominent animal sculptures of elephants, leopards and animals exotic to 20th century Europe.

Bugatti suffered from severe mental health problems and depression. Eventually killing himself at the young age of 31.