Clock was painted by Archibald Knox in 1900-01-01.

Where can I see Clock?

Clock is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Clock?

Clock is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Artwork

Clock

Archibald Knox , 1900

Clock is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Archibald Knox. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

No further details regarding its commission, specific ownership chain prior to the museum, or creation circumstances are provided in the available records.

Archibald Knox created the painting titled Clock in 1900. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently located. No further details regarding its commission, specific ownership chain prior to the museum, or creation circumstances are provided in the available records.

The painting Clock by Archibald Knox, created in 1900, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work remains part of the museum's permanent holdings, with its location confirmed at the institution in New York. No specific accession or inventory number is provided in the available records, nor is there documented exhibition history for this piece in the current sources.

Overview

Created in 1900, Clock is a decorative timepiece designed by Archibald Knox, a Manx artist whose work straddled the Arts and Crafts ethos and emerging modernist currents. The object combines a white, glossy surface with a simple black dial, set within a frame of flowing, leaf‑like motifs that echo the organic vocabulary of early twentieth‑century design.

Subject & Meaning

The clock’s face features Roman numerals and slender black hands, presenting a functional element within an ornamental context. The surrounding frame, with its curvilinear lines and stylised foliage, transforms a mundane device into a visual statement, reflecting Knox’s interest in integrating everyday objects into a broader aesthetic program rooted in nature and tradition.

Technique & Style

Executed in a white ceramic or porcelain material, the piece displays a subtle sheen that highlights its smooth surface. The decorative border employs sinuous, plant‑inspired forms characteristic of Art Nouveau, while the overall composition retains the geometric restraint associated with the Celtic Revival and the handcrafted ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement.

Context

At the dawn of the twentieth century, British decorative arts were negotiating the legacy of Victorian historicism and the rise of modernist abstraction. Knox’s Clock exemplifies this transitional moment, synthesising Celtic motifs, Art Nouveau fluidity, and the functional simplicity that would later inform modern design movements.