We spoke with the team behind Versailles: Science and Splendour, an exhibition at London’s Science Museum exploring the scientific ambitions of Louis XIV. Glyn Morgan, Curatorial Lead for Exhibitions at the Science Museum, shared insights into the making of the show and the role of scientific instruments at court. Anna Rolls, Curator of the Clockmakers’ Museum, offered a broader view—discussing how museums today can shape public understanding of horology and its place in cultural history.

How does Versailles: Science and Splendour communicate the role of timekeeping in the French court?

Glyn Morgan: Versailles: Science and Splendour invites visitors to discover the unexpected, yet vitally important, role of science at the French royal court through spectacular scientific objects and artworks. The exhibition explores how the French monarchy harnessed scientific knowledge as a tool of power, and reveals the meeting of art and science in the court and showcases more than 120 fascinating objects, from the extravagant to the everyday, many of which have never been displayed in the UK before.

What are some of the standout horological artefacts featured in the exhibition, and what do they reveal about the relationship between science and craftsmanship at Versailles?

Glyn Morgan: The spectacular objects on display include the world’s most famous watch, Breguet’s No. 160 ‘Marie Antoinette’, on public display for the first time in Europe. In 1783, one of the greatest watchmakers of all time, Abraham-Louis Breguet was given an unlimited budget to craft an exceptional timepiece for Queen Marie Antoinette. Breguet was a master at designing complications for watches: mechanisms to allow them to perform new functions; and so the watch was also commissioned to include as many features as possible ranging from a calendar which accounts for leap-years to a thermometer and more. Crafted over four decades from the finest materials including sapphires, platinum and gold, it exceeded all other watches of its time in beauty and complexity and became Breguet’s masterpiece.

One of the most complex pieces of horological engineering of its time, the Pendule de la Création du Monde, presented to Louis XV in 1754, is also on display. This exquisite astronomical clock exemplifies the intersection of scientific interest and royal opulence, boasting Versailles’ splendour through mechanical wonder.

Under the reigns of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI, clocks were considered to be the most sophisticated and therefore the most prestigious devices ever designed. This astounding object was intended to impress the recipient by its size, the originality of its subject and shape, and its complex technology as evidence of the skill of French artisans and scientists.

The exhibition focuses on the contribitions of the French. What were some of the key advancements in timekeeping technology during the 17th and 18th centuries, and how did they shape modern watchmaking?

Glyn Morgan: Richard Dunn, Keeper of Technologies and Engineering at the Science Museum, has written a blog post on the French involvement in the quest for longitude, focusing particularly on the sea clock by Ferdinand Berthoud on display in the exhibition. The blog post explores French contributions to the development and use of a game-changing navigational innovation in more detail.

Horology often sits at the intersection of science, art, and craftsmanship. What initiatives does the Science Museum undertake to engage the public with the history and mechanics of timekeeping?

Anna Rolls: The Science Museum is home to the Clockmakers’ Museum, the world’s oldest clock and watch collection. The collection includes more than 600 watches, 90 clocks, 30 marine chronometers and a number of fine sundials and examples of hand engraving, mapping the history of innovation in watch and clock making in London from 1600 to the present day.

Volunteer-led gallery tours take place at the museum regularly to allow visitors to discover the technical innovations that shaped the collection. We also have regular volunteer-led handling sessions, which allow visitors to touch and learn about all types of timekeepers.

Are there any hands-on experiences or interactive elements in the museum that allow visitors to explore the principles of horology more deeply?

Anna Rolls: The volunteer-led handling sessions within the Clockmakers’ Museum allow visitors to learn about the principles of horology by engaging with real objects. By touching these objects, they can hear a 300-year-old watch ticking in their hands, feel the power of the mainspring, and understand how parts are made. New interactive clockwork mechanisms have also recently been installed in the Clockmakers’ Museum. These models demonstrate some of the many ways clockwork mechanisms can also create sound and make things move, using gears, cams and levers.

Beyond exhibitions, does the Science Museum collaborate with watchmakers, historians, or conservationists to promote horological education and appreciation?

Anna Rolls: The Clockmakers' Museum collection at the Science Museum is owned by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. Many of its members are watchmakers, historians and conservators. The Company supports and promotes the horological crafts and industry, and through its museum collection aims to inspire the next generation of watch and clockmaker. This is done through its annual programme of temporary displays, as well as collaborating with the Science Museum through its Lates programme.