A vignette arranged upon a carpeted wooden floor depicts Thomas Jefferson seated at a table writing the Declaration of independence. He is perched on the edge of a curved back wooden chair, behind a nicely shaped table. He has a paper mache head with glass eyes, leather eyelids, painted complexion, closed mouth with well-rendered benevolent smile, grey hair, and wears black woolen suit with lace ruffled cuffs and jabot, silk vest, black shoes, stockings. His right hand that holds a quill is sculpted to appear as though he is writing, and his left hand is posed reflectively. on the table are arranged a brass inkwell, brass lantern, American flag, and the Declaration of independence.
Movements: A sequence of movements is designed to show Jefferson laboring over the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The lamp is lit. He leans over his work, writes hurriedly, then slowly, then rapidly again, then pauses, appears to contemplate, then writes again. Eventually the lamp burns out, the light flickers, his eyes close and he falls asleep over his work. Then the light comes back on, he opens his eyes, raises his head, and begins to work again.
Historical References: Michel Bertrand had worked as a model maker and technician for the successors of the old Vichy firm from 1955 until 1967 when the firm finally closed. An apt student of the carefully guarded techniques used by Vichy, he then undertook to create a series of one-of-a-kind automaton that were inspired by models of the 19th century. One of this series was Jefferson Writing the Declaration of Independence, inspired by Vichy's 1895 Pierrot Writing. The Jefferson piece was especially prized by its creator who exhibited it in America prior to the Bicentennial Years. It eventually found its way back to France and into the collection of Paul Gendre. It is unique. Circa 1970.