Ontwerpen voor horlogekasten 1703

Pierre Bourdon created these designs for clock cases in pen and brown ink around 1700. These objects existed at the intersection of art, science, and commerce, as new technologies for measuring time transformed both intellectual life and the conduct of business in the Netherlands. The elaborate, symmetrical patterns Bourdon proposes borrow from a wider visual vocabulary, with roots in classical antiquity and the Italian Renaissance. But they also reflect the wealth and interests of his Dutch patrons. The incorporation of winged allegorical figures, and the density of the ornament, speak to a desire for status and refinement. Bourdon’s drawings were likely part of a portfolio that would have been presented to potential clients. By looking at prints and drawings from the period, alongside surviving examples of furniture and timepieces, we can better understand the complex visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age.