The Triumph of Love Over Time Mantle Clock in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, July 2007

Clock, 1775
French
Clockmaker: Jean-Baptiste Lepaute (1727–1802)
Figures after models by Augustin Pajou (1730–1809)
Gilt bronze, marble; H. 37 in. (94 cm), W. 41 in. (104.1 cm), D. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.2126)

The young god of Love points to the minute with his arrow while holding a blazing torch to the celestial globe that contains between its hemispheres two revolving rings, one with the minutes (5-10) and the other with the hours (I-XII). Chronos, or Father Time, sits dejectedly at the right. The figures modeled by Augustin Pajou (1730-1809) are taken from a more complex design for a clock made by the royal sculptor in 1775 for the prince de Conde and were probably cast by Etienne Martincourt (recorded 1762-1800.) The subject of the relief on the pedestal is a sacrifice to Eros.

The workshop of the Lepaute family consisted at this period of Jean-Baptiste (1727-1802, horologer du roi in 1775), Pierre, called Henry-Lepaute (1749-1806), and Pierre-Bazile, called Sully-Lepaute (1750-1843).

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/special/All_That_Glitters/1.r.htm and the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.