The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

The Symbolism of the Clock

Eighteenth-century philosophers were of the opinion that a clock was a mechanical model of the universe and its task was to "count" time, following the movements of the heavenly bodies. Each of those bodies and each time of day or night were associated with particular birds that more than others reminded people of the "onward march of time". The symbolic significance of the birds depicted would have been clear to contemporaries.

The peacock is the most rich in astral symbolism: it represents the cosmos, the sun and the lunar disk. The most impressive moment - the solemn opening of the tail and its rapid folding is a symbol of the unity between the appearance and disappearance of all that exists. The owl is a sign of night, quiet and wisdom, but at the same time it is a companion of Atropos, the last of the three Fates or Moirai that cuts off the thread of life, hence a symbol of darkness, sorrow and the end of life. The cockerel, whose crowing announces the sunrise, is a symbol of the birth of light, life and resurrection (it is one of the emblems of Christ).

The movement of the birds in the Hermitage clock begins with the disturbing syncopated melody of the little bells on the cage of the owl (night), then the peacock opens out its "sun-tail" and turns around, showing the viewer for an instant the silvery back side of its tail. Then the bird turns around again; the silver of night disappears; the golden disk of the sun returns to the centre. Its rise is announced by the crowing of the cockerel. Thus the Peacock Clock is a symbol of the continuity of life, in contrast to the usual perception of any timepiece as a memento mori, a reminder of mortality.

The Peacock
Larger view

The Peacock Clock
Larger view

The Owl
Larger view

The Cockerel
Larger view