English gold and enamel pair cased verge watch Circa 1762

Gold and enamel verge in pair cases by Robert Stroud
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A rare and important English 18 Carat gold and enamel pair cased verge pocket watch, circa 1762. Enamelled outer case with a fine painting on the back probably from the workshop of Jean Mussard V, in unrestored original condition, on the inside another polychrome enamel scene depicting a castle landscape with a river, a plain inner case, Hallmarked London 1762. White enamel dial with Roman hours, Arabic minutes and decorative original hands. Decorated verge movement, signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 115 g
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Signed: Robert Stroud London
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Jean Mussard V was born and died in Geneva, 1681-1754. He was one of the best enamel painters of the early 18th century, the son of Jean IV and a cousin of the Huauds. He began his career as a goldsmith and became a Master on December 7th, 1699. He later became a painter on enamel, in which discipline he was influenced by the style of Les Frères Huaud. Although he clearly was inspired by their work, his paintings were more according to the taste of the time, they showed religious designs as well as purely secular ones. He went into partnership with his son Jean-Antoine and trained several pupils, among them Gabriel Fontaine, André Oettner and in 1712, Germain Colladon. The scene ‘The Death of Cleopatra’ can be found on several of his enamel watches, but two of his best known subjects are ‘Roman Charity’ and ‘Religious Scene’. His signature appears as ‘Mussard’, ‘Jean Mussard pinx’ and ‘Mussard pinx’.