The first publication of Gustave Trouve Jewells in La Nature, 1879
Gustave Trouve Rabbit
Gustave Trouve Skull
Gustave Trouvé was a pioneer of electrical engineering. He invented and patented in 1865 the miniature sealed battery that he used for the jewels. He also invented a motor to propel a boat. Gustave Trouvé was the first to apply electrical lights in the theatrical productions. But given his background in watchmaking Gustave Trouvé turned his curiosity to making (inventing) electronically animated jewels.
In 1879 the illustration and article about his jewels was published in La Nature. There is a description of Gustave Trouvé work in the book called The Cult of Novelty, made available online by the British Museum. The electrically animated gold enameled skull pin with diamond eyes would grind it’s teeth. The drummer Rabbit would strike the miniature bell. And the bird would beat it’s wings.
But the illustration that appeared in La Nature is a work of art in its own right. In fact I have seen artistic reproductions of that page by the modern artists, alas with no attribution to the meaning or history of the image. But there is a genius in the composition. I call it Gustave Trouvé’s Trinity. Centered on the archetypal, iconic image of the Holy Spirit that is traditionally depicted as an illuminated bird. And then the juxtaposed duality of life and death. The mortal skull and the childhood playful rabbit. The angled geometry of the pins evokes the composition and the geometry of Albrecht Durer’s Trinity.
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