A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH EMPIRE STYLE GILT BRONZE CLOCK GARNITURE DEPICTING THE OATH OF THE HORATII the three Horatii brothers taking an oath of fidelity to Rome, their father flanking the clock case, the figures raised on a rectangular plinth base with a relief depicting a classical battle scene, flanked by stars, raised on four paw feet, the clock case surmounted by a trophy with rams heads and three laurel wreaths, with a laurel wreath cast bezel enclosing the silvered dial with Roman numerals, the twin train movement with outside countwheel striking on a bell, with pendulum, the garniture candelabra modelled with seated sphinxes, each with five acanthus wrapped branches centred by a straight fifth, raised on conforming plinth bases and paw feet, the clock 61cm high x 56cm wide, the candelabra 66cm high (3) Provenance: Purchased from Sotheby's, New York, 2nd October 2009, lot 184. Related Literature: E. Niehuser, 'French Bronze Clocks', Schiffer, p. 70 shows a clock of similar design. Also illustrated is Jacques-Louis David's 1784 painting of The Oath of the Horatii which the design is based on. The base shows a battle scene and the clock is surmounted by laurel wreaths, with a laurel wreath bezel, which hints at the forthcomoing victory. Several variations from the early 19th century exist, including one by the important bronzier Claude Galle, and an example of this design was acquired by George Prince of Wales in 1809 for the Large Crimson Drawing Room at Carlton House; it remains in the Royal collection at Buckingham Palace and is illustrated in R. Garnier et al, Buckingham Palace, A Complete Guide, London 1993, p.92, fig 1. The clock movement is ticking and striking but not fully tested or guaranteed.