French Bronze Clock, “the Red Boy” Inspired By The Painting By Sir Thomas Lawrence

Provenance: France
Period: 1850 ca
Signature:    -
Functions hours and minutes, half 'n' hour chime
Dimensions: 47 x 37 x 13 cm

The painting that inspired this clock depicts the young Charles William Lambton, a work created in 1825 by the renowned Sir Thomas Lawrence at the request of John Lambton, the boy's father, at the time a member of Parliament and later elevated to the rank of Baron of Durham.
The title "The Red Boy" derives from a peculiarity: although Lawrence had initially painted the boy's dress in yellow, at the insistence of his father and client, he changed the color to a vivid crimson, a shade that later characterized the work. Currently, this work currently resides at the National Gallery in London, purchased by the Museum from a private collection in July 2021 for £9.3 million.

The upper part of the clock precisely reproduces both the boy's pose and clothing. However, compared to the original, the subject appears reflected in the clock. Another detail that diverges from the work is the rock on which the young Lambton is sitting, as in the clock it is replaced by a set of trunks and bushes in patinated bronze. This choice enhances the boy's emblematic pose, thanks to the stark contrast with the gilding.