Saturday, July 21, 2012

Precious Time: The Jean Romilly Watch, 1760-61

Quarter-Repeating Watch by Jean Romilly
1760-1761
This and all related images from:
The Gilbert Collection at the Victoria & Albert Museum



Made by Jean Romilly (1714-1794) between 1760 and 1761, this quarter-repeating watch of enameled gold is set with panels imitating moss agate. The reverse of the watch is mounted with a scene of a young flute player leaning over a young woman in order to read his music, while another woman and a boy whisper together in the background.

Within this intricately painted scene on the back of the watch, a large armoire and a square stone column to the left of the composition are counter-balanced by a depiction of a massive draping of pale-purple silk taffeta flowing into the composition from the upper right.

This watch is another treasure from the V&A’s Gilbert Collection.


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