“Measuring Time” gallery features oldest painting with a watch
Art experts think they may have found the world’s oldest painting to feature an image of a watch.
The Science Museum is investigating the 450-year-old portrait, thought to be of Cosimo I de Medici, Duke of Florence, holding a golden timepiece.
The painting is being shown as part of the museum’s Measuring Time gallery.
The first watches appeared shortly after 1500 in Germany and horologists believe the picture, painted by renaissance master Maso da San Friano around 1560, “may well be the oldest to show a true watch“.
The painting has been in the museum’s collection for 33 years after being acquired from a private donor.
As it was being taken out of storage for the gallery, curators decided to research the painting – which was when they made their discovery.
This is way cool. And that’s coming from someone who hasn’t worn a watch since 1986…
