Introduction
Reginald Cotterell Butler (28 April 1913 – 23 October 1981) was an English sculptor. Butler studied and lectured at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London from 1937 to 1939. He was a conscientious objector during the Second World War, being exempted from military service conditional upon setting up a small blacksmith business repairing farm implements. After winning the ‘Unknown Political Prisoner’ competition in 1953 he became one of the best known sculptors during the 1950s and 1960s, and also taught at the Slade School of Art.
Butler’s later work consists of lifelike models of female figures, such as Italian Girl, 1963. A work from this series was presented to Tate by by Curwen Studio through the Institute of Contemporary Prints, 1975.