The Zarbula sundial is one of the most beautiful solar dials in the Clarée valley. Never restored, it presents itself as the dialer Giovanni Franseco Zarbula painted it in 1843.
This famous Piedmontese cadranier produced many dials in the Briançonnais between 1833 and 1870, among the most beautiful in the department;
The sundials of Zarbula have a very rich decoration. The frame, painted in trompe-l'œil, perfectly simulates perspective, with the multiplication of right angles and light and dark tones of the same color.
On the frame are placed two exotic birds that peck a bunch of grapes. Their anatomy is inspired by several different birds, for example the peacock’s long tail and the ibis’s narrow arched neck. Zarbula perhaps found her models in natural history books.
Another characteristic of Zarbula is the background of the dial in faux marble. On this faux-marbre, it is written at the top the year of completion of the dial: 1843. In the lower part, there are two inscriptions:
- "Z.G.F." which means Zarbula Giovanni Francesco. This is the signature of Zarbula
- And "J.R." corresponding to the initials of the owner of the house, Joseph Roux.
As in La Vachette, the time table has rounded Arabic numerals (look at the loop of 5, 6, 2), and the M of noon. A huge solar disk occupies the central part. From this disc leave the arrows that designate the hours: their empennage is also typical of Zarbula.
The motto gives voice to the dial: once again, the message is severe. "Without the sun, I am nothing, and you, without God, you can do nothing." Finally, under the frame, let’s not forget the line of equinoxes.
The most attentive ones may have already noticed the traces of the ruler and the compass that appear in the solar disk. The low degradation of colors has the advantage of showing us Zarbula’s work.
In fact, this dial is in excellent condition, even though it has never been restored! Cette bonne conservation est due notamment à la technique de la fresque, que Zarbula maîtrisait parfaitement. L'orientation sud-est du cadran, le balcon au-dessus et le bâtiment voisin ont également favorisé sa conservation.
