Re: The Libertine

[John Carmichael]

Hello Fred:   I think we have a photo of an old drawing of The King's Sundial that you mentioned.  It's in the stained glass website Image Archive.  It must be the same sundial, don't you think?  Here is a direct link to the photo I got from Chris Daniel: http://advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/sundials_files/StainedGlassSundial68original.jpg   And here is all the info we have on it:   His Majesty's Pyrimidical Dial Maker: Reverand Francis Hall (alias Line), Professor of Mathematics at Liege University for His Majesty. Date: 1669 Original Location: In his Majesty's Private Garden at whitehall, somewhere in UK Present Location: Lost or destroyed Orientation: undetermined, but some are inclined to vertical. Size: unknown Adornment: many painted glass sundials Mottos: unknown Condition: Quickly destroyed by weather and vandals Comment: Famous "pyramidical" sundial. According to C. Daniel, it was made of stone, iron, brass, wood and glass with about 270 individual component dials including a number of spherical glass dials and painted plane glass dials. Carefully recorded details in an 'Explication' published in London in 1673. Original Photo: Here Photo © C StJ H D ----- Original Message ----- From: Fred Sawyer To: Sundial List Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 7:22 AM Subject: The Libertine The new Johnny Depp movie The Libertine opens in the U.S. on March 10.  It's the story of the second Earl of Rochester, friend and confidant of King Charles II - and noted for his lewd poetry and drunken debauchery.  It's based on Stephen Jeffreys' play by the same name.   What does this have to do with sundials?  One of Rochester's more dastardly deeds involves the complete destruction of the sundial in the King's Privy Garden.  The dial was like a huge candelabra of glass spheres and panels; it was considered one of the greatest - or at least most expensive - scientific instruments in Europe.  Jeffreys' play includes a scene 'featuring' the destruction of the sundial.  I do not know if the movie captures the same act - the director might have decided it was simply too traumatic to film!   Having read about Rochester's wasted life, I frankly find it hard to believe that this movie will be something I would want to see - but I may need to sit through it to see if the dial appears and if what they show is anywhere near close to the original.   Fred Sawyer   --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial

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