A Clock Given to Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld — November 2022

Marcel Proust's generosity towards those close to him is one of the most engaging facets of his personality. In February 1905, on the occasion of the marriage of his friend Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld to Odile de Richelieu, Proust chose to give the newlyweds an object of rare distinction: a Louis XVI-period clock in white marble and turquin blue marble, adorned with chased and gilded bronze.

Kept for more than a century within the family of the newlyweds, at the Château de Verteuil in the Charente, this clock has joined the collections of the Maison de Tante Léonie – Musée Marcel Proust thanks to the generosity of a private patron. In a remarkable mise en abyme, the rediscovered object now enriches the memorial site devoted to the writer who made time itself the very substance of his Recherche.

Overview

This Louis XVI-period clock, dating from around 1780, is made of white marble with two columns in turquin blue marble, adorned with chased and gilded bronze decorated with garlands of flowers, foliage and beading. Its upper section is surmounted by an eagle with outstretched wings, while the oval base bears a biscuit-porcelain figure representing a Diana elegantly leaning against a column. The eight-day movement, with an anchor escapement, strikes the hours and half-hours.

Marcel Proust gave this object to Comte Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld (1875–1942) on the occasion of his marriage, celebrated on 8 February 1905 and then, the following day, with a religious ceremony in the chapel of the Sorbonne, to Odile Chapelle de Jumilhac du Plessis de Richelieu. The two friends had met in 1897; both contributed to Le Figaro and maintained an active correspondence until Proust's death.

The clock remained thereafter at the Château de Verteuil in the Charente and was passed down through the family to Comtesse Sixte de La Rochefoucauld, from whom it could be acquired thanks to the generosity of a private patron.

Authors and Contributors

Jérôme Bastianelli, president of the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust et des Amis de Combray, writes the introduction and retraces the circumstances of the acquisition. He also took the photographs reproduced in the publication.

François de Ricqlès, member of the Société's board of directors and a specialist in the art market, writes the entry devoted to the clock — its technical and stylistic characteristics and its provenance within the La Rochefoucauld family.

Jean de La Rochefoucauld contributes a biographical text devoted to Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld, man of letters, columnist for Le Figaro, officer of the Légion d'honneur, and lasting friend of Marcel Proust.

Éric Unger edited the brochure; Étienne Pélissier designed its layout.

Contents

• Introduction
• The Clock
• Gabriel de La Rochefoucauld

Bibliographic Information

• Format: paperback
• ISBN: 978-2-492318-19-1
• Price: 5 €
• Publisher: Société des Amis de Marcel Proust et des Amis de Combray
• Legal deposit: November 2022