Visiting the MET
Combining history and mathematics to analyze an astronomical regulator through an interdisciplinary lens
Travelling to the Museum
On a Sunday in the middle of September, a friend and I drove into New York City to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While traffic made our car ride take almost two hours, we were lucky enough to find free street parking in a nearby alley. As we approached the museum, I was surprised by the inviting and enjoyable atmosphere. Although New York City has some negative associations, the museum courtyard was filled by people selling their own artwork and calming water features. My feelings of wonder grew as we ascended the stairs into the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A Fascinating Artifact
Situated in an alcove between rooms of paintings, an impressive ornate clock caught my eye. The plaque informed me that I was looking at an “Astronomical Regulator” created by Ferdinand Berthoud between 1768 and 1770. Additionally, Balthazar Lieutaud crafted the clock’s case out of ebony, oak, and bronze. This masterpiece of horology was added to the Jack and Belle Lansky Collection in 1982, eventually making its way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
A Historical Perspective
To properly appreciate the astronomical regulator, its rich history must be considered.
”Ferdinand Berthoud was born on March 18th 1727 to a family of distinguished clock- and watchmakers in Plancemont in the heart of the Val-de-Travers region of the canton Neuchâtel, Switzerland” (History, Origins, and Mastery). This quote comes from a luxury watch company’s website named “Ferdinand Berthoud” to continue his legacy. The museum plaque shares that despite his Swiss origins, Berthoud was apprenticed to a French master clockmaker, Julien Le Roy, in 1749. After refining his skills at this apprenticeship in Paris, he became an influential clockmaker for the French king and a mechanic for the French navy.
During his years of training in Paris, Ferdinand Berthoud began experimenting with new forms of horology, the study of time and clocks. In fact, the mechanism powering the astronomical regulator was one of Berthoud’s original inventions. He first published the mechanism equation in his book, Essai sur l’Horlogerie. However, Berthoud would continue to publish a total of ten books and even an article in Encyclopédie (O'neill, 1984). Recognizing the genius of Berthoud’s novel design, Balthazar Lieutaud decided to create a case for the astronomical regulator.
Balthazar Lieutaud was a well-respected craftsmen who was was particularly famous for his work within the rococo and neoclassical styles. According to Apollo Art & Antiques, “Lieutaud received master-cabinetmaker in March 1749 and specialized in luxuriously decorated clock cases for regulators and cartels” (Balthazar Lieutaud 2023). Through careful woodworking, Lieutaud encased the astronomical regulator within a glossy ebony veneer over a sturdy oak frame. The clock’s face consists of an enameled dial, while a stamp on the back of the case still reads “B. LIEUTAUD” (O'neill, 1984). In addition to Berthoud and Lieutaud, several bronze workers were responsible for the astronomical regulator’s beautiful completion, including Phillipe Caffiéri and Charles Grimpelle.
A Mathematical View
Without numerical precision and engineered efficiency, a clock is useless.
Berthoud and Lieutaud’s astronomical regulator is an example of a long case clock, more commonly known as a grandfather clock. This type of timepiece relies on the inherent consistency of a pendulum, whose movement can be precisely described by mathematical formulas. According to the University of Southern California, “There are four basic internal parts that cause each hand on the pendulum clock to work: the escapement, the weight, the gears, and the setting mechanism” (Chappel, 2001). The escapement converts the pendulum’s swinging into consistent rotation, while the weight ensures that the pendulum keeps swinging. The gears power each of the clock’s hands at different speeds, and the the setting mechanism allows the correct time to be inputted. When designing the inner workings of the astronomical regulator, Lieutaud had to calculate the impact of all these components through equations and prototypes.
As shown by the picture to the right, the clock has three hands. There is a short ornate one for hours, a thin twisting one for minutes, and a long plain one for seconds. However, the museum plaque states that the clock originally had four hands. In the centuries since the astronomical regulator’s creation, the fourth hand which represented mean time was substituted for the curving hand ending in the sun’s image. While the currently depicted solar hand matches the gilded aesthetic of the entire clock, the original hand was steel and looked more like the simple seconds hand.
Furthermore, the hole in the bottom of the clock face reveals the current month and date. Between four hands and a calendar ring, this clock displays a remarkable amount of information. It is truly a prime example of Swiss design and French engineering.
Due to the clock’s incredible design, the weight-driven movement can continue consistently for a month, leveraging a Graham-type deadbeat (O’neill, 1984). Because of its mathematical precision, this clock was successfully used by astronomers to predict celestial events.
Final Thoughts
While I rarely visit museums, I enjoyed my visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art far more than I expected. Between its inviting atmosphere and intriguing artifacts, I was thoroughly delighted and impressed. Walking past various periods of history and approaches to art, I was struck by how many different perspectives exist. More importantly, I began to appreciate the unique importance of these different perspectives.
Every academic discipline has its own strengths, weaknesses, and focus. Interdisciplinary approaches are effective because they leverage the benefits of multiple fields. In fact, interdisciplinary approaches are becoming essential as the world grows more complex. By combining the depth of history with the precision of mathematics, I was able to better appreciate Berthoud and Lieutaud’s astronomical regulator.
References
Balthazar Lieutaud. Apollo Art & Antiques. (2023, July 8). https://apolloartantiques.nl/artists/balthazar-lieutaud/
Chappell, J. (2001, October 1). The long case clock: Engineering behind a grandfather clock. USC Viterbi School of Engineering. https://illumin.usc.edu/the-long-case-clock-engineering-behind-a-grandfather-clock/
History, Origins, and Mastery. Ferdinand Berthoud. (n.d.). https://www.ferdinandberthoud.ch/en/history.html
O’neill, J. P. (1984). The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York; Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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