Exploring the Essence of High Watchmaking: Rubens Reproductions Recreated in Miniature Enamel

The partnership between Vacheron Constantin and the Louvre began in 2019. This relationship has resulted in an unprecedented masterpiece: the Battle of Anghiari, a masterpiece by Peter Paul Rubens housed in the Louvre, reproduced in enamel on the dial of a Les Cabinotiers watch.

VACHERON CONSTANTIN × MUSÉE DU LOUVRE

　Not many watches can guarantee that they will stand the test of time for centuries to come, but Les Cabinotiers - Homage to Peter Paul Rubens' The Battle of Anghiari certainly qualifies.

　Rubens is, of course, a painter renowned as a master of 17th-century Flemish Baroque. He is the creator of the famous painting in Antwerp Cathedral, beneath which Nero, the protagonist of "A Dog of Flanders," dies. "The Battle of Anghiari" is currently housed in the Louvre Museum, but you must go through the necessary procedures before you can view it. This treasured work has been given new life.

　The story begins with the successful bid of a customizable Les Cabinotiers watch at the 2020 "Bid for the Louvre" auction, held in solidarity with the Louvre. Vacheron Constantin, which had partnered with the Louvre the previous year, donated the entire proceeds to the educational workshop "Le Studio." In return, the winning bidder received a surprising offer: the right to choose a work from the Louvre's collection and have it reproduced on the dial. After discussions with the museum's curators, the work chosen was "The Battle of Anghiari," housed in the Cabinet of Prints and Drawings (Prints and Drawings Reading Room) at the southwest end of the museum.

　This masterpiece was originally a large mural that Leonardo da Vinci intended to paint in the current Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Rubens obtained a copy of the unfinished sketch that was lost, and added to it using ink, chalk, and watercolors. This "inspiration" has continued the fame of this legendary masterpiece. Meanwhile, another mural by Vasari was later painted in the same place as the sketch in the palace. It is well known in the art world that the painting contains a hidden message that indicates that the sketch still exists. The Battle of Anghiari, where the aura of these great masters intertwines, has been breathed new life into the 21st century.

　Vacheron Constantin's master artisans have chosen to apply the traditional Genevan miniature painting technique with the grisaille enamel technique. By applying varying thicknesses of Limoges white glaze rather than a transparent one, the dynamic composition of the human figure and horse is given exquisite depth. From a 16th-century mural to a 17th-century drawing, and now to the enamel dial of "Les Cabinotiers," Vacheron Constantin has condensed this rare beauty into a work of art for the third time.

Professor Hirota's "This is amazing!"

　One of Geneva's proud traditional crafts is miniature enamel, which reproduces detailed paintings in enamel. Typically, it is done in colorful colors. Vacheron Constantin, on the other hand, has chosen the sepia-toned "Battle of Anghiari" as its subject, recreating Rubens's touch. The reason they have recreated this timeless masterpiece in enamel is because they are confident that, just like a painting, this unique piece will remain forever. The author has only seen a photograph, but the level of perfection is unmatched.