Since the invention of mechanical timekeeping in the 13th century, clocks and watches have appeared in fine art. From Titian to Jamie Wyeth, from Brueghel to Hopper to Dali, artists have portrayed timekeepers in symbolic, metaphorical, allegorical and documentary roles, never by accident. More than two decades ago, Bob Frishman began researching, collecting, writing, and lecturing about seven centuries of artworks with timekeepers in the images. His digital-image collection now numbers more than 3,100 artworks from museums, auctions, journals, books, and private owners. He authored thirty-six articles (attached below) on the topic for the magazine of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC), each one featuring an iconic painting, print, photograph, or sculpture. The articles provide details on the artists, cultural and historical contexts, and the depicted timepieces. Subsequent articles published elsewhere expanded on the theme.
In October 2017, as Chairman of the NAWCC Time Symposium Committee, Bob created an "Horology in Art" conference at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Over three days, eighteen eminent art-historians, curators, professors, independent scholars, and horologists gave unique new presentations. A full report on the symposium, with many photographs, may be viewed at www.horologyinart.com.
Bob created, curated, and installed three "Horology in Art" exhibits; the first two at the Horological Society of New York and the Willard House and Clock Museum. The 2025 Horology and Religion exhibit at Gordon College featured dozens of artworks from the 1400's to the early 20th century that show clocks within religious imagery and themes. He invites other cultural and historical institutions to consider such exhibits.
"HOROLOGY IN ART" RICHLY ILLUSTRATED FREE LECTURES, WITH MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED ICONIC ART IMAGES, OFFERED TO PUBLIC AUDIENCES.
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