Lot Essay
The contemplative Renaissance figure entitled 'Penseroso', after Michaelangelo's masterpiece of Lorenzo de Medici, surmounts the clock-pedestal and is indicated by Cupid, who bears Chronos's hour-glass above a trophy of weapons painted on a sky-blue clock-face. Its plinth-supported 'altar' pedestal is guarded by Renaissance-dressed 'nymph' caryatids born on fruit-garlanded trusses. The Penseroso featured amongst reductions of celebrated Florentine statues in the catalogue of bronze d'art, issued by F. Barbedienne of the boulevard Poissoniere, whose manufacture received medals at the various exhibitions held during the second half of the 19th century. The signature 'F. Barbedienne/A Paris' featured on a related clock sold anonymously at Christie's London, 2 October 1997, lot 61.
See illustration
See illustration