Rembrandt Bugatti

Private Collection
Sladmore Gallery, London
Acquired from the above in 2008

London, Sladmore Gallery, Rembrandt Bugatti- An Exhibition of Sculpture, 1988

Mary Harvey, The Bronzes of Rembrandt Bugatti (1885-1916): An Illustrated Catalogue and Biography, London, 1979, illustration of another cast p. 39
Phillippe Dejean, Bugatti, Carlo-Rembrandt-Ettore-Jean, Paris, 1981, illustration of another cast p. 155
Edward Horswell, Rembrandt Bugatti, Life in Sculpture, London, 2004, illustration of another cast p. 106
Véronique Fromanger, Rembrandt Bugatti Sculpteur-Répertoire Monographique, Paris, 2009, no. 299, illustration of another cast p. 330

Work is in excellent condition. Dark brown patina. Minor patina rubbing to top of right ear. Small spot of discoloration on base to left of signature, otherwise fine.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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As the present work superbly demonstrates, "the casting is one of the attractions which makes Rembrandt Bugatti's sculptures so precious in the eyes of many collectors. Indeed, it is perfection in the translation of detail, the slightest quiver is espoused by the molten metal, and there is the richness and warmth of the patina and its generally dark quality which was desired by the artist" (Philippe Dejean, op. cit., p. 138).

In Petit léopard assis, Bugatti encapsulates the streamlined power and feline grace of the big cat with a whimsical, yet entirely naturalistic feel. The artist's meticulous attention to the nuances of musculature, as well as his infinitely subtler references to emotion and personality, betray his respect and awe for the beast immortalized here. In doing so, Bugatti has fulfilled his promise that, "I will work with all my strength to go as high as I am able. I hope and I believe that I will succeed in creating a work such as no other animal sculptor ancient or modern has achieved before" (quoted in Phillipe Dejean, ibid, p. 141).