The Animal Gazer by Edgardo Franzosini

The Animal Gazer by Edgardo Franzosini

Author:Edgardo Franzosini [Franzosini, Edgardo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: eBook ISBN: 9781939931542
Publisher: New Vessel Press
Published: 2017-01-15T05:00:00+00:00


AFTER DRAGGING ITS enormous mass from the point where its dung was collected all the way to the bars of the cage, the animal stopped in front of Rembrandt and looked at him, slowly opening its eyelids. Although he could touch it, if he extended his hand, and feel the warmth of its flesh beneath its crust of dirt and leathery skin, Bugatti thought it would be best, for the moment, to forgo such a gesture. As if awaiting a sign, a proof of attention, and irritated at not receiving one, or surprised by the man’s apparent lack of interest, the pachyderm lowered its head to one side, rubbed it against the ground a few times, and then returned to its dung heap.

I have to speak with the man in charge here, thought Rembrandt as he left the Egyptian Temple.

Michel L’Hoëst, who was the director of the Antwerp Zoo (the L’Hoëst family was a dynasty of directors: first Michel François, followed by Michel Junior), welcomed him affably and courteously, without the prudent skepticism that in other circumstances he might have reserved for a man like Rembrandt: an Italian who was quite tall, although a little hunchbacked, with facial features that were melancholic and sharp, though not exactly severe, and dressed in a style that, at a minimum, could be described as subtly bizarre or strangely provocative.

“All animal sculptors are welcome here,” said L’Hoëst, with a hint of pride in his voice. “For them our arms are always open! We do everything in our power to make them happy, to support their creative process.”

Perhaps the esteem and reputation that Bugatti had started to enjoy in France had also reached the ears of the director.



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