L'Horloger (clockmaker)

DateCa. 1730

Engraver Martin Engelbrecht

MediumHand colored line engraving on laid paper

DimensionsOverall: 14 × 8 1/2in. (35.6 × 21.6cm) Other: 12 × 8 1/4in. (30.5 × 21cm) Other: 10 1/4 × 7 3/4in. (26 × 19.7cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1955-150,16A

DescriptionUpper right corner reads: "77"
Lower margin reads: "l'Horloger./ Ein Uhrmacher./ 1. Pendule. 1. ein Scheiben Hur. 2. Partrage de cadran. 2. Abtheil Scheiben. 3. l'Horlage. 3. Studnden Schlag./ Uhr. 4. montre à minutte. 4. Sackh Uhr mit Mimitten. 5. montre à heures. 5. Stunden Uhr. 6. chainetes de montre/ 6. Uhrketten. 7. ressorts. 7. Uhr federn. 8. marteau. 8 . hamer. 9. glob pour l'arret du mouvement. 9. Unruh Stihl/ Klöbel 10. limes. 10. feilen. 11. tenailles. 11. Beriß Zange. 12. manche de globe. 12. Stihl Klöbel. 13. cercle pour/ ressorts. 13. Rundlaüf u: feder Zirckul. 14. limes pour globe. 14. feil globen(?) 15. montre à poser. 15. Stozen Uhr. 16. montre./ emboetée. 16. Kasten od Stockh Uhr. 17. clef de grosse montre. 17. Schüßel zu einer großen Uhr. 18. clef de montre de/ poche. 18. d.o zur Sackh Uhur. 19. montre perpendiculaire. 19. lange Perpendicul: Uhr./ Cum. Priv Maj./ M. Engelbrecht excud. A.V."
Label TextMartin Engelbrecht’s mid-18th century publication on trades included both a male and female illustration of each trade or profession in creative ways. Though they represent the tools that tradesmen used and the products they produced, they were meant to entertain elite audiences rather than inform about the labor involved in these trades or professions.This print represents an idealized version of a clockmaker. He carries the tools and products of that trade on his person as follows: 1. (on head) pendule (clock on stand); 2. (in right hand) Partage de cadran (watch dial); 3. (hanging from right shoulder) l'Horloge (a clock); 4. (hanging from neck) montre a minutte (watch in minutes); 5. (hanging from neck) montre a heures (watch for hours); 6. (around neck) chainettes de montre (chains for watches); 7. (at waist) ressorts (springs); 8. (at waist) marteau (hammer); 9. (at waist) glob pour l'arret du mouvement (device to regulate the movement); 10. (at waist) limes (files); 11. (at waist) tenailles (pliers); 12. (at waist) manche de globe (handle for the clocks); 13. (at waist) cercle pour ressorts (forms for the springs); 14. (at waist) limes pour globe (files for the clocks); 15. (on table) montre a poser (stop watch); 16.(on table) montre emboetee (clock in a case); 17. (on table) clef de grosse montre (key for the large clock); 18. (on table) clef de montre de poche (key for the pocket watch); 19. (to left of figure) montre perpendiculaire (clock on pedestal).

This print is from a series of 189 engravings consisting prints featuring depictions of tradesmen in the format known as composite figures, which are human figures made up of objects. Sometimes various accoutrements or tools are cleverly incorporated into recognizable garments or even replace body parts. Each plate represents different trades by trades men and women dressed with associated tools and products. They do not represent actual tradespeople nor are they meant to suggest that women participated in these trades, though in some cases they may have.They were designed by Johann Jacob Stelzner (1706-1780), C.F. Horstman and M. Rosler. They were etched by Martin Engelbrecht ( 1684–1756). The series was published in a compilation known as, From Martin Engelbrecht, "L' Assemblage nouveau des manouvries habilles or Neu-eröffnete Sammlung der mit ihren eigenen Arbeiten und Werkzeugen eingekleideten Künstlern, Handwerkern und Professionen," (Augsburg, Germany, ca. 1730).