Directory table clock; End of XVIII century.

Directory table clock; End of XVIII century.
Gilded bronze.
Preserves pendulum and key.
It shows wear in the gilding and needs to be tuned.
Signed Roche à Marseille
Measurements: 38 x 34 cm.
This table clock belongs to the Directory period (1795-1799), a transition period between the severe neoclassicism of the French Revolution and the monumentality that would later characterize the Empire style. Made in gilded bronze, it stands out for the purity of its lines, its sculptural composition and the quality of its finish.
The scene represents Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty, accompanied by Cupid, her son and personification of amorous desire. Both appear arranged on both sides of a lit altar, whose flame is the symbolic axis of the composition. Venus, represented with a classically inspired tunic and a serene attitude, seems to feed or protect the sacred fire, while Cupid approaches with an expectant and participatory gesture. This was a recurring theme in the decorative arts of neoclassicism, where Greco-Roman mythology provided a repertoire of moral and sentimental allegories.
The structure of the clock takes the form of a naveta or ceremonial cup supported on a circular pedestal, a model inspired by vessels of classical antiquity that enjoyed great popularity in the furniture and decorative objects of the late eighteenth century. The enameled dial is integrated into the central body, subordinating itself to the sculptural ensemble and demonstrating the desire to turn the clock into a true work of art rather than a mere instrument for measuring time.