Bronze Sculpture of Rembrandt Bugatti’s ‘Male Serpentaire with One Wing Extended’

Rembrandt’s Bugatti’s “Serpentaire mâle, une aile deployée” also known as “Male Secretary Bird, One Wing Spread” depicts a male secretary bird with one wing down. This behavior is common among birds as it allows them to control their body temperature. As a bird with the longest legs of any bird of prey, the secretary bird can tower over the grass in the African Savannah, searching for food. The base of the sculpture is modeled after stone, reminding the viewer of the creature’s captivity and the faux environments that zoos present. The bird is a sentry-like creature. The surface of the bronze is harder, the modeling crisp and angular, and detail is pared down to accentuate the bird’s sleek, hard lines.