The clockwork
Eight-day going train with anchor escapement. Strikes in full on the hour and once on the half hour. Enameld dial with hour indication in Roman numerals and minutes in Arabic numerals.
Signed on the dial: Roquet a Paria
A white marble base that rests on six gilt bronze feet is decorated with a relief with playing putti and two rosettes. On top the clockwork rests on a marble base that is decorated with gilt bronze flower sprigs and leaf motifs. On the right of the clock a standing Venus in gilt bronze that catches Cupid on the left with a rose garland. On the left, on a cloud, the attributes of Cupid; a bow and arrow and a torch. The chasing of the guild bronzes on this clock is of remarkable quality.
The theme of Venus and Cupid was much loved by French clock makers. There is a great variety of depictions that elaborate on the theme; sometimes Cupid is blindfolded or punished by Venus, in other cases she breaks his bow or begs him to cease his pranks.
The depiction on this clock, the tempestuous relationship between Venus, goddess of love, and Cupid, was very much loved among Parisian collectors by the end of the eighteenth century. Several copies of this specimen are known, like the one in the “Royal British Collection”, the one in the former collection of baron Duteil, and the one in the collection of the former Russian Royal family.
Jacques Claudes Martin Rocquet was born on July 21. 1765 and died June 7. 1816 in Paris. He was a clock maker and son of the fabrics decorator of the Menu-Plaisirs du Roi.
Literature:
H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Die Bronzearbeiten des Spätbarock und Klassizismus, Band I, Munich, 1986, p. 247, fig. 4.6.11
