Clock

The clock belongs among the type of figural clocks; the central scene consists of an embracing couple in antique clothing in front of a niche. The man has a lyre on his back, suggesting this is Orpheus, famed musician of Greek mythology, or that this is the meeting of Orpheus and Eurydice in Hades. Irrespective of any doubts about the iconographic content, this is an undoubtedly high quality piece in the whole and the individual parts. The combination of glossy and gilt parts and the dark matted elements, mainly there to make a neutral background, has been successfully carried out. The figures stand in contrapposto and the drapery of the clothing enfolds and clings to their bodies softly. The ratios of the volumes have been carefully studied, and result in a graceful composition. All this refers to the quality of the sculptor who did the housing, and not only the watchmaker, to whom we can ascribe only a properly made working part of the clock. From comparative material, we conclude that the author might be Claude Galle, one of the most important Parisian bronze founders at the beginning of the 19th century. The watchmaker Dubuc le jeune (Jr) was at work in Paris around 1807 – 1812. From the Erwin Weiss Collection.