Design For a Clock, pl. XXI from "Recueil d'Ouvrages Curieux de Mathematique et de Mecanique, ou Description du Cabinet"
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. George A. Kubler
Accession Number
1949-152-38
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 huma...