Superb white Carrara marble sculpture representing a vulture preparing to spread its wings by the Belgian artist of Italian origin Antonio Amorgasti and his son Marcel.

The technical and aesthetic quality of this work testifies to the exceptional know-how of this dynasty of sculptors (Antonio’s brother, Gustave, was also a talented sculptor).

This piece, dated « 1937 », was presented at the Animal Art Exhibition in Brussels in the same year.

Antonio Amorgasti was born in Pisa in 1880 and died in Antwerp in 1942. He was the younger brother of the sculptor August Amorgasti, a moulder in the workshops of Josué Dupon and Edward Deckers.

He designed ornamental works of a high technical standard and medallion portraits in Averbode, Veerle and Geel. He also depicts workers at work, typical subjects of the time.

However, he is best known for his animal sculptures in bronze, plaster and, more rarely, marble, including animals from the Antwerp Zoo.

He also produced some rare works with his son, Marcel Amorgasti (Borgerhout 1908 – 1985), also a sculptor.

Height : 47,5 cm.

Length x Width : 41 x 24,5 cm.

PANZETTA, A. Nuovo Dizionario degli Scultori Italiani dell’Ottocento e del primo Novecento. 3^e éd. Italy : Umberto Allemandi & C., 2003. Vol.1. p. 28.

ENGELEN, C. MARX, M. La Sculpture en Belgique à partir de 1830. Louvain : Engelen – Marx, 2006. Tome I p. 44 – 57.