Watchcase cover: Pomona and Vertumnus 1600 - 1625

Curator: Look at this. "Pomona and Vertumnus," a watchcase cover made with enamel around 1600-1625 by Suzanne de Court. Currently residing at The Met. Isn't it stunning? Editor: Enchanting! The vibrant colors give it an almost dreamlike quality. It feels so… contained. The figures nestled in their jewel-toned world. Is that how they wore their fantasies, close to the skin? Curator: Possibly. The cover tells the story of Pomona, a Roman goddess of fruitful abundance, and Vertumnus, who woos her disguised as an old woman. See him there, seated humbly in blue? Editor: The color contrast is captivating! Notice the layering of blues against the muted reds, how that pulls your gaze around and around. Even though the palette feels unnatural, the figures seem remarkably intimate. It feels like glimpsing a secret conversation. Curator: Indeed. Court masterfully employs enamel to depict depth and texture, and there’s an almost miniaturist sensibility in her detailed treatment of flora and fauna. Enamel work allowed an incredible richness that was really sought after. It feels weighty in its artistry despite being delicate and petite in actuality. Editor: And that twisted border, enclosing this private tableau... The Mannerist style, so evident here, seems ideally suited to adorn a personal object like a watch. The detail is exquisite—like peeking into someone’s memory. Curator: Court's understanding of form and color allowed her to construct a believable three-dimensional narrative within this restricted space. It's so compelling to consider what wearing this meant. Time passing… alongside a classical myth playing out each day? Editor: To think of this level of craftsmanship and intention being lavished upon something so intimate, so temporal... I am struck by the care. Court wasn't just creating; she was conjuring. And, in some small way, whispering across time. Curator: Right? The magic lingers, doesn’t it? It speaks, perhaps softly now, but eloquently still. Editor: Beautifully put. Makes you wonder who held it, close to their heart.