Tableaux Vivants

The musical picture clock was an audiovisual marvel of its time. Known as “Tableaux Vivants,” these objects were clockwork-driven, 2-to-3-dimensional moving pictures purchased as luxury decorative items at the end of the 18th to mid-19th Centuries. The moving scene may have been a desirable novelty or conversation piece, but the public’s telling of time in the 18th century had become a necessity of modern life, not only within the village or cityscape but in homes as well. The Morris Museum owns several of these objects, one of which will be demonstrated for visitors on occasion.

Check out the new audio tour featuring the three Tableaux Vivants on Bloomberg Connects.

This installation is made possible with the support of Will and Mary Leland.

Image credit: Animated Tableau with Timepiece and Scene of Ponte di Rialto, Venice (detail), c.1840 Cailly, Jne. & Henri Marc, Paris, France Murtogh D. Guinness Collection