The Gros-Horloge ( en, Great-Clock) is a

14th century As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was a century lasting from 1 January 1301 ( MCCCI), to 31 December 1400 ( MCD). It is estimated that the century witnessed the death of more than 45 million lives from political and na ...

astronomical clock An astronomical clock, horologium, or orloj is a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information, such as the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, zodiacal constellations, and sometimes major planets. Definition ...

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the region of Normandy and the department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe, the population ...

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. The clock is installed in a Renaissance arch crossing the

Rue du Gros-Horloge The Rue du Gros-Horloge is the main public pedestrian thoroughfare in the French city of Rouen. Origin of the name It takes its name from the Gros Horloge, one of the emblematic monuments of the city. Historical It is possible that the s ...

. The mechanism is one of the oldest in France, the movement having been made in 1389. Construction of the clock was started by Jourdain del Leche who lacked the necessary expertise to finish the task,"Le Gros Horloge"
green-lion.net so the work was completed by Jean de Felain, who became the first to hold the position of governor of the clock.Tanguy, Jacques (2006)

/ref> The clock was originally constructed without a dial, with one revolution of the hour-hand representing twenty-four hours. The movement is cast in wrought iron, and at approximately twice the size of the Wells Cathedral clock, it is perhaps the largest such mechanism still extant. A facade was added in 1529 when the clock was moved to its current position. The mechanism was electrified in the 1920s and it was restored in 1997. As of 9 July, 2022, the clock movement itself is NOT functional in any way. There is an electrical solenoid that rings one of the two bells in the tower on the 1/4 hr. The Renaissance facade represents a golden sun with 24 rays on a starry blue background. The dial measures in diameter. The phases of the moon are shown in the

oculus Oculus (a term from Latin ''oculus'', meaning 'eye'), may refer to the following Architecture * Oculus (architecture), a circular opening in the centre of a dome or in a wall Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Oculus'' (film), a 2013 American s ...

of the upper part of the dial. It completes a full rotation in 29 days. The week days are shown in an opening at the base of the dial with allegorical subjects for each day of the week. The Gros Horloge has featured in paintings by

J. M. W. Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 177519 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbul ...

and the French

impressionist Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by relatively small, thin, yet visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passag ...

Léon-Jules Lemaître. File:JMC Turner, The Gros Horloge at Rouen, Normandy c.1832.jpg, ''The Gros Horloge at Rouen, Normandy'' c.1832, by J.M.W. Turner]

References

{{Astronomical clocks Astronomical clocks in France Rouen