A French Empire mantel clock depicting Hercules, the heroe of antiquity. Extremely fine quality, the bronze is outstanding and the original fire or mercury gilded ormolu in excellent condition. Hercules stands with his club lowered to the ground and his arm resting on a tree trunk. The theme of the clock shows Hercules labours and deeds, the Nemean lion skin, draped around him, and the golden apple of the Hesperides in his left hand. This clock seems to captures the moment of rest after his heroic deeds. The 8 day silk suspension movement strikes the hours and halves by means of countwheel. The white convex enamel dial is set within a superb ormolu bezel. The hour numerals are of Roman style and in black. With blued steel bregeut half moon hands, the dial is signed Lepaute a Paris, a famous family of clockmakers.. An almost identical clock can be seen in French Bronze clocks by Elke Niehuser pp. 64 and a similar model in Vergoldete Bronzen by Hans Ottomeyer/Peter Proschel pp.399. Signed and dated on the spring, 1814. Height 49,5 cm Length 38cm depth 15cm