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Bronze, with green/black patina and partially polished Germany, around 1982 Ernst Fuchs (b. 1930) - Austrian painter, sculptor and architect Signed and inscribed 'Ernst Fuchs - IWC International Watch Co. Schaffhausen' on the plinth Numbered and inscribed '056/789 venturi arte' at the foot of the bronze sculpture Mechanical IWC movement inside the bronze base; 8 day running duration Separate, hexagonal marble pedestal; height: 90 cm Overall height (clock without marble base): c. 66 cm Original winding key Fully functional (clock); very good overall condition Provenance: Austrian private collection Ernst Fuchs is famous for his unusual and finely executed sculptures; his bronze works fetch up to 20,000 Euros at international auctions Being one of the leading artists of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, Ernst Fuchs has always been influenced by the Surrealism, as well as by Old Master painting. The examination and reinterpretation of mythological themes is therefore one characteristic aspect of the artist's oeuvre, so that the 'Janus Cock' is an interesting example of his artistic approach. Janus, known as the god of beginnings and transitions in ancient Roman mythology, is usually depicted as a two-faced creature in European fine arts. Regarding our present piece of the 'Janus Clock', Ernst Fuchs has linked the mythological perception of the god with the clock, that enables and also represents the measurement of the time: The period of one day, beginning with the first our and eventually ending 24 hours later with the stroke at midnight, usually determines the system of a clock. Furthermore, one day can of course be characterised by the course of the sun that rises and goes down again. Ernst Fuchs has therefore given his bronze sculpture two significant faces: On one side of the sculpture we can seed the bright golden 'day'-face of a beautiful woman, having a rather peculiar pinned-up hairstyle. At a certain time, a special mechanism causes a turn of the sculpture, so that the other side appears in shape of a dark 'night'-face. Now, the woman's hair is replaced by a creature similar to a predatory bird, ascending from her head with sweeping wings. Her breasts have also transformed into hideous claws that usher the metamorphosis of the Janus-effect, too. The 'Janus Clock' was designed in cooperation with Ernst Fuchs and the Swiss manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen. Accordingly, there is a mechanical IWC movement with an 8 day running duration integrated into the bronze base of the sculpture. The Janus-figure is mounted on a round brass plinth which is in turn connected with the bronze pedestal, underneath. It features an index with Roman numbers on its outer rim and serves as the turntable of the Janus clock. The bronze cast was made by Venturi Arte in Bologna by the method of lost wax. The bronze received a beautiful black and green patina by hand and was partially polished. The clock is presented on a separate, hexagonal pedestal that was made of black marble. The 'Janus Clock' is in a very good overall condition with only minimal traces of age and use. The bronze sculpture measures together with its plinth c. 47 cm in height. The bronze base is also very well preserved and measures c. 21.5 cm in height and c. 26 cm in diameter. The movement inside worked perfectly during a short-time test; but long term precision and regularity cannot be guaranteed. The separate marble pedestal shows a very good condition, too, and measures 90 cm in height and 30 cm in diameter. The delivery scope includes the winding key. Ernst Fuchs (born 1930) Already as a pupil, Ernst Fuchs obtained instruction in painting and sculpting from his parents' friends and began his studies at the age of 15 at the Viennese Akademie der Bildenden Künste under Albert Paris von Güterloh. Between 1950 and 1962 Fuchs travelled a lot and exhibited in various countries, until he returned to Vienna in 1962 as a professor. There he grew to be one of the main representatives of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism, whose founder was his teacher, von Gütersloh. Even though it was inspired by Surrealism, Phantastical Realism orientated itself more and more towards the technical perfection of the Old Masters and is less abstract than Surrealism. Fuchs mainly completed works with mystical-religious themes. Apart from his graphic works, Fuchs worked as a stage designer, costume designer, singer and architect. His buildings are characterised by ornaments and colours, and can still be admired today. The Otto-Wagner-Villa built by Fuchs himself is today the Ernst-Fuchs-Museum. Fuchs' works are shown internationally in different retrospectives. In 2004 he received the First Class Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art. (cbo)