The underlying purpose of producing a book that was both understandable and pleasant is confirmed by the four refined plates that complement the explanations. The result is a book published in a small duodecimo format, comprising 15 brief articles written in simple language on the theme of adjusting watches and clocks. He specifically addressed his work to “those who have no knowledge of watchmaking” and adopted the approach of the fashionable science of his era, which was to educate while entertaining: “I did not wish to enter into excessive details for fear of becoming too long-winded and too abstract & and thereby to put off those who would like to have fun”. While the “Lettre sur l’horlogerie” provided a first glimpse of Berthoud’s taste for didactic explanations, it was only with L’art de conduire et de régler les pendules et les montres (1759) that the master-watchmaker truly began the task of popularising knowledge. The master horologist’s talent for popularising complex concepts And there is no doubt about the fact that Berthoud by then indeed belonged to the horological elite of Paris, since he was awarded the much-coveted maîtrise (master clockmaker title) in December 1753. The article comments on the state of French horology and praises certain figures such as Henry Sully, Julien Le Roy and Pierre de Rivaz for their contributions to its reputation. It also served as a reminder of Berthoud’s origins, although in the text himself he introduces himself as a horologist fully integrated within the Parisian circle of his profession. Berthoud’s intention to reach a broad audience is highlighted by his choice of the Journal helvétique, which was printed in Neuchâtel and represented the most important periodical in French-speaking Switzerland at the time. In May 1753 of the Journal helévtique, he published the “Lettre sur l’horlogerie” (Letter on Horology) which he dedicated to his fellow countryman Pierre-Jaquet Droz, the clockmaker from La Chaux-de-Fonds who had journeyed to Paris that year. Ferdinand Berthoud in particular grasped in his youth already the importance of making the principles of horological expertise known a broad audience. The 18th century passion for science was accompanied by strong demand for technical knowledge emanating from non-specialists and keenly perceived by horologists in the Age of Enlightenment. In 1753, he gave the first proof of his penmanship in the “Lettre sur l’horlogerie” (Letter on horology), followed in 1759 by L’art de conduire et de régler les pendules et les montres (The art of operating and adjusting clocks and watches) and in 1763 by the Essai sur l’horlogerie (Essay on Horology), which were two stages in the same instructive project aimed at educating both horologists and enthusiastic connoisseurs. Capitalising on his talent as an author, which greatly contributed to his reputation, he produced in the course of his career a rich body of published work, driven by the knowledge-sharing ideal characterising the Age of Enlightenment. Ferdinand Berthoud was one of the rare 18th century horologists able to wield the pen and the file with equal dexterity.
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