Bugatti Exposition "Une Dynastie de créateurs"
Photographs by Geert-Jan Koopman
From June 22 to October 13, 2024 there was a Bugatti exhibition, called: "Une Dynastie de créateurs" in the south of France. Of the exhibition I received photographs of the automobiles from Gaart-Jan Koopman from the Netherlands. Unfortunately photographing the Carlo Bugatti furniture or the Rembrandt Bugatti sculptures was not allowed.
You will find photographs of the automobiles here, followed by the announcement of the exhibition, and lastly the list of chassis numbers of the Bugattis in the exhibition.
Exhibition announcement
This Bugatti exposition, organized by François Melcion - who used to organize Retromobile, is in a small town called Uzes (located in the south of France at 40 kms from Avignon) which is a fantastic medieval town.
We had the opportunity to set up this exposition in the episcopal building of the town and if you ever come you will be astonished by the location.
For the first time in France, Carlo, Rembrandt and Ettore will be displayed in the same place.
Everything on display will have a perfect provenance.
It was during a friendly lunch that Marc Stammegna, Adolphe Monticelli expert,
art dealer, enlightened connoisseur of bronzes by Rembrandt Bugatti, and François
Melcion, former director of Rétromobile, discuss their shared passion for
Bugatti family.
From this meeting emerges the idea of a tribute to the family trilogy.
Thanks to his 50 years of experience in the world of classic automobiles, which have
led to take charge of the “Rétromobile” show in Paris, François Melcion
was able to bring together a large number of emblematic vehicles.
For his part, Marc Stammegna is responsible for the presentation of a large selection
of works by Rembrandt Bugatti.
Finally, the fruit of joint work made it possible to bring together remarkable furniture
and exceptional pieces of silverwork by Carlo Bugatti.
More info
CARLO BUGATTI (1856 Milan – 1940 Molsheim)
He inherited the gifts of his father Giovanni, who was a renowned sculptor and architect in Italy and Europe.
In 1880, he began his career as a cabinetmaker by offering his first work to his sister, on the occasion of her marriage to Segantini, an Italian symbolist painter.
Very quickly, his artistic reputation asserted itself and his furniture adorned the most refined apartments of the European aristocracy.
Carlo intends to maintain a deep connection between the organic world of nature and his artistic technique. He uses the most varied materials to mix them into a unique piece of furniture, a true work of art.
His talent and genius are now recognized:
1888: honorary diploma from the Italian exhibition at Earl’s Court in London,
1900: silver medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition.
At the height of his career, in 1902 Carlo obtained the honorary diploma from the 1st international exhibition of modern art in Turin where he exhibited four rooms including the one considered his masterpiece: “the snail room”.
This exhibition is the starting point for art nouveau in Italy.
To the Queen of Italy, who describes his creations as “Moorish style”, he responds “you are wrong, Majesty, this style is mine”.
For his goldsmith pieces, he joined forces with the founder Hebrard whose technical genius allowed him to give free rein to his vision.
He settled permanently in France in 1904, in Paris, then in Pierrefonds, where he was Mayor, and finally in Molsheim where he joined his son Ettore and his grandson Jean.
ETTORE BUGATTI (1881 Milan – 1947 Neuilly s/Seine)
Ettore raised the automobile to the rank of Fine Arts, making him a pioneer and Bugatti a myth of the luxury, sports and competition automobile industry.
From a very young age, he designed mechanical parts and at the age of 14, he revealed his passion for mechanics.
From his time at the Brera Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, he retained a pronounced taste for aesthetics and simplicity, "the originality of the design is nothing without the perfection of the execution" and from 1898, he manufactured his first motorized tricycle.
In 1899, he manufactured a motorized quadricycle (the Type 1), then in 1900, he manufactured his first automobile, the Type 2, which won the grand prize at the Milan international automobile show.
After collaborating with Émile Mathis, then the German manufacturer Deutz, he finally founded his own brand in 1909 in Molsheim, then on German territory.
He will also build aircraft engines, boats and railcars powered by the 12.7 liter engine of the Bugatti Royale. In 1934, these railcars set a speed record of 192 km/h! The path to the TGV is all mapped out!!!
The golden age of the brand was in the 20s and 30s when Jean joined his father in the design office. Together they designed the Types 37, 40, 41, the famous “Royale”, the 43 which reached a speed of 170 km/h, then followed by the Types 44 which met with great commercial success and the 46 known as “little Royale”, the latest model. designed by Ettore.
The 55, designed by Jean, will leave its mark with its aesthetic, a timeless mark in the world of automobiles.
The following cars were designed by Jean, including the Type 57 and its derivatives.
Bugatti won the 24 hours of Le Mans twice: in 1937 with Robert Benoist and Jean-Pierre Wimille, at the wheel of a Type 57G, then in 1939, with Jean-Pierre Wimille and Pierre Veyron with a Type 57C.
The death of Jean, at the wheel of a racing Bugatti in 1939, began the decline of the brand and Ettore would never recover from this premature death.
During the war, the brand was “confiscated” by the Germans and disappeared despite the last battle of Ettore who succeeded in recovering the Molsheim factory at the liberation, but could never restart the activity due to lack of resources and customers.
In 37 years, the Bugatti brand will have produced nearly 7,500 luxury cars, filed nearly 1,000 patents, won more than 10,000 victories, including 2,000 for the Bugatti 35 alone (an unrivaled success to date) and established 37 records.
REMBRANDT BUGATTI (1884 Milan – 1916 Paris)
In just 15 years, from 1900 to 1915, Rembrandt Bugatti, thanks to his innovative approach coupled with his exceptional genius, opened an impressionist door to the art of sculpture.
Self-taught, from his childhood he spent a lot of time in his father's workshop, immersing himself in techniques while letting his mind open.
At 16, he created a large “group of cows”, and three years later, in 1904, he signed an exclusive contract with Adrien Hebrard.
Exhibitions followed at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, at the Louvre, and at the Salon d'Automne at the Grand Palais where he was placed next to Rodin who admired his work.
In 1904, Hébrard dedicated an exhibition to him in his gallery on rue Royale, which was renewed every year until 1913.
Unfortunately, after his suicide in 1916 and as a result of crises and wars, many of his bronzes were melted down in order to recover the metal. He will once again become the most sought-after animal sculptor in the world, from the 1970s, thus proving right.
Rodin when speaking to his students, he evoked Rembrandt Bugatti with these words: “Young people, here is your new master”
The animals sculpted by Rembrandt Bugatti are not imaginary but real animal portraits captured by the artist's subtle examination.
His bronzes placed under paintings by Van Dongen, Matisse, Derain and other masters are in full osmosis with the great Fauve artists.
In 1909, when he created the “Grand Anteater” or the “Baboin”, he created works close to Cubism, without even knowing Picasso.
The work of Rembrandt Bugatti is pure talent.
Thanks to his meeting with Adrien Hébrard, founder, magician of patinas and Palazzolo, goldsmith and trimmer, Rembrandt's bronzes are light and alive, with eternal beauty.
Chassis numbers
List of the Bugatti automobiles (with chassis numbers) present at the exhibition:
- T23 Torpedo 1922 (1573)
- T30 Torpedo Sport 1924 (4180)
- T35 Grand Prix 1925 (4449) 35 AAA 59 (F)
- T35B Grand Prix 1928 (4932) DF-735-EV (F)
- T40 Grand Sport 1927 (40588) 7375 DH 75 (F)
- T40 Coupé Fiacre 1929 (40730) BY-665-QB (F)
- T43A Roadster 1929 (43306) DJ-562-WZ (F)
- T56 Phaeton 1931 (56101)
- T57 Cabriolet by Gangloff 1936 (57327)
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