Lot 520 | Prévost Watteau | BRONZE MONUMENTAL PENDULUM CLOCK WITH THE OATH OF THE HORATII

BRONZE MONUMENTAL PENDULUM CLOCK WITH THE OATH OF THE HORATII.

Prévost Watteau. Lille

Date: 1st half 19th c.
Maker/Designer: The model by Claude Galle.
Technique: Cast bronze, chased, polished and matte gilding.
Description: High rectangular base on four feet. On the front with a finely crafted relief of a battle
scene. Rectangular clock case in the center. To its left stands Horatius, who accepts the
oath of his sons and holds out three swords to them. The sons in uniform on the right. On
the case are three laurel wreaths, prepared for the hoped-for victory. Dial with Roman
numerals. Large 14-day pendulum movement with thread suspension and half-hour strike on
bell.
Measurement: 22x55x65cm.
Mark: On guilloché dial inscr. "Prevost Watteau A Lille" (Grande Chaussé, Lille, 1829-35).


Literature:
- Niehüser, Elke: Die Französische Bronzeuhr, Munich 1997. For this model see p.70.
- Ottomeyer, Hans and Pröschel, Peter: Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich 1986. For this type comp. p.367, fig.5.13.5.
- Tardy, for the master see p.537.

The painting "The Oath of the Horatii" by Jacques Louis David, which today is shown at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, served as a template for this pendulum clock.
The subject is taken from the stories of the Roman historian Titus Livius, who in his work "Ab urbe condita" reports on the battles of the Horatii against the Curiatii. In the 7th century BC, the cities of Rome and Alba Longa were at odds with each other. Since both were afraid of the external threat from the Etruscans, it was decided to spare the troops of both camps and to have a fight of a few representatives of each city. Belonging to the oldest families of Rome, the three sons of the Horatii were chosen as fighters. For Alba Longa, the three brothers of the Curatii clan fought against them.
Although the Horatii emerged victorious from the battle, the story nevertheless came to a rather tragic end. Only the youngest brother survived and was able to defeat his opponents only by using a trick. He then killed his sister, who was mourning the loss of her fiancé - one oft he Curatii. The case went down in Roman legal history, as the last descendant of the Curatii was acquitted due to his bravery and steadfastness.