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Wall Clock

Golden-colored, ornate wall clock adorned with golden flourishes, a bent figure with an arrow at top.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • Golden-colored, ornate wall clock adorned with golden flourishes, a bent figure with an arrow at top.

Date:

c. 1735–40

Artist:

Case attributed to Jean-Pierre Latz
French, c. 1691–1754
Clockwork made by Francis Bayley
Belgian, active 18th century
Paris, France

About this artwork

An exuberant and lavish example of the French Rococo style, this sculptural wall clock epitomizes the extravagant era of Louis XV (r. 1715–74). Festooned with ormolu (gilt bronze) swirls and floral swags, the clock required the collaboration of numerous specialized artisans. Its case, candelabra, and wall bracket were created by the eminent Jean-Pierre Latz, who was appointed ébéniste (furniture maker) to the king in 1741. The clock’s eight-day movement was manufactured in the Flemish city of Ghent by Francis Bayley, possibly a member of the large London dynasty of clockmakers of that name. Opulent clocks such as this did more than tell time; they delighted the ear with music (six melody titles are engraved in the dial’s arch) and dazzled the eye with dramatic scenes. Here the Greek god Apollo is poised at the top of the clock case to slay the serpent Python. The space between the clock and the wall bracket was cleverly used to suggest the beast’s home, the cave of Mount Parnassus in Greece. In the triangular base are the faces of Zeus, symbolizing time, and Hera, presiding over marriage and childbirth. They are surmounted by two small coats of arms belonging to the Flemish bride and groom whose union the clock was probably created to celebrate.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Artist

Jean Pierre Latz (Cabinetmaker)

Title

Wall Clock

Place

France (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1735–1740

Medium

Oak, tortoiseshell, kingwood, brass, gilt bronze, and glass

Inscriptions

Mark: "Francis Bayley, Ghendt"

Dimensions

147.3 × 64.8 × 53.3 cm (58 × 25 1/4 × 21 in.)

Credit Line

Ada Turnbull Hertle Fund

Reference Number

1975.172

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

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https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/57819/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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