French 22 Carat gold and enamel verge pendant watch Circa 1640

Gold verge watch with polychrome enamel scenes
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Magnificent and very rare French large 22 Carat gold and enamel pendant watch with a concealed dial, circa 1640. Gilt brass full plate movement, turned baluster pillars, fusee and gut line for the going train, verge escapement, two arm steel circular foliot, elongated pierced and engraved gilt cock secured by a screw, ratchet wheel and click set-up.
The case entirely enamelled with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child after engravings from Simon Vouet (1590-1649) depicting the Holy family after their return from Egypt when they stayed with Elizabeth, a cousin of Mary, and her young son St. John the Baptist. Elizabeth, known as an elderly mother holds Saint John who has a cross made of reeds and who points to a small bird which the mother of Jesus has tethered, Jesus watches the bird and Saint Joseph stands behind with a book, the theme continues on the cover, with Saint Joseph consulting a book with the words of the prophets and what they foretold, the enamelling is attributable to Robert Vauquer, gold enamelled pendant.
Silver dial with champlevé Roman hours, inner quarter hour ring, the centre chased and engraved with a floral design, blued steel tulip hand.
Signed on the backplate.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Signed: Baronneau à Paris
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Robert Vauquer (1625-1670) was born in Blois, France, as the son of a clockmaker and metal engraver. Vauquer served his apprenticeship with Morlière. He and his brother Jacques, who was an engraver, lived and worked in Blois their entire lives. Vauquer was much respected by his contemporaries, Félibien and Bernier greatly praising him, as did Dom Liron in his “Bibliothèque chartraine” and the abbé de Marolles said, “As for Robert Vauquer, his work pleases us”.
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A round watch, with the Holy family as the principal subject, along with the Christ child, and incidental hunting scenes, signed “Vauquer pinxit”, is said to have belonged to Anne d’Autriche. A series of paintings on enamel representing scenes from the Passion signed “Robertus Vauquerius Blesensis”, can be admired in the numismatic cabinet of the Vatican, a gift of Pope Leon XII.
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François Baronneau is recorded as working in Paris between 1620 and 1649, established in Rue Saint-Jacques, la Boucherie. He died sometime after 1653.