Design For a Clock, pl. XXI from "Recueil d'Ouvrages Curieux de Mathematique et de Mecanique, ou Description du Cabinet"

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

Step into the ingenious world of 18th French innovation with *Design For a Clock, pl. XXI* fromard Grollier devière II's *Recueil d'Ouv Curieux de Mathematique de Mecanique, Description du Cabinet* (9). Created by this prolific engineer and collector (1677–1745), the print showcases one of his elaborate clock designs, drawn from his famed Parisian cabinet of curiosities—a private museum brimming with mechanical marvels, automata, and scientific wonders. During the Enlightenment, such collections captivated intellectuals, blending art, mathematics, and engineering to push the boundaries of human ingenuity. As a print, likely an engraving, this plate served as both technical blueprint and artistic rendering, preserving Grollier's visionary mechanisms for posterity. Clocks like this one highlight the era's obsession with precision timekeeping, often featuring intricate gears, exotic materials, and whimsical forms inspired by nature or mythology. Grollier's work exemplifies the crossover between decorative arts and science, influencing clockmakers across Europe. Today, housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum (gift of Mrs. George A. Kubler), this piece invites us to marvel at how 300 years ago, one man's curiosity fueled the gears of progress. Research continues to uncover more about its construction, but its charm endures as a window into a tinker's golden age.