Zarbulas Sundials Roger Bailey & Alain Ferreira NASS 2005 Chicago.

Zarbula’s

Sundials

Roger Bailey & Alain Ferreira

NASS 2005 Chicago

Sundials in France

Distribution by Département

Hautes-Alpes 772

Highest sundial density in the world!

Ref: http://www.saf-lastronomie.com/cadrans/carte_2002.gif

Why Hautes-Alpes?

• Alpine folk art traditions• Insolation: 330 days of sunshine • Isolation from politics and progress

– Travel over the passes not down the valleys– Transhumance- summer alps, winter

Piedmont• Independent Republics

– Five “Escartons de Briançonnais” – from 1343 until 1713 and 1789

• Itinerants: shepherds and tradesmen

ZARBULA

ZONE

Austria

Bavaria

France

Italy

Alpine Sundials

EngadineTyrol

Sundials of Giovanni Francesco ZARBULA

Who was Giovanni Francesco Zarbula?

• We only know his name and his works

• Itinerant Italian painter• Piedmont to Hautes Alpes• Only tools, materials and

techniques that could be carried by a donkey

• Speciality: bold flamboyant vertical declining sundials

• Distinctive folk art style• Accurate gnomonic method• Long lasting fresco paintings

Zarbula’s StyleBaroque Italian Folk Art• Equinoctial Line • Birds and Flowers• Frame, curtains, tassels• Sun and crescent moon• Symbols: Masonic and

Religious• Mottos: Latin, French,

Italian, Provencal• Signed: GFZ or ZGF• Dated: 1830 – 1876• Maljasset, Ubaye, 1860

ZARBULA

ZONE

95

Zarbula

sundials

26 ORIGINALS11 WITH ZARBULA’s DRAWINGS

36 RESTORED23 PHOTOS FROM ORIGINALS

33 LOST5 PHOTOS OR DRAWINGS OF THOSE LOST

5 DUBIOUS8 DUPLICATES OR COMPLEMENTARY

Italy, Piedmont

Zone Val Chisone

20 sundials

VALLOIRE2

ZONE BRIANCON

29

VALLOUISE

4

VALLEE DE LA CLAREE

4

NORTH ZARBULA ZONE

Latitude 45º

ZARBULA’ s Method

Discovered by Paul Gagnaire, From the Valloire sundial, at Les Verneys en Savoie.

Ref : Cadrans solaires en Savoie, 1999 by P.Gagnaire. Page 130-137: A Valloire, Solved mystery.L’Equere et L’Oiseau ou L’Art et La Maniere de ZARBULA by P.Gagnaire. 2000 Cadran Info SaF http://www.ens-lyon.fr/RELIE/Cadrans/Promenades/Zarbula/Equerre.htm

ZARBULA’ s Method

Les Verneys en Savoie.

Drawing by P.Gagnaire

Equatorial

6 o’clock

Equatorial Circle

Zarbula’s Construction Lines

Noon

Horizontal

Zarbula’s Method: The Sun Rules!

•Zarbula did not need to know the latitude or wall declination to define the dial.•The shadow determined the sub-style line•Zarbula used no calculations or tables.•Simple geometry determined the hour lines.•Zarbula worked at the latitude of 45°• None of the sundials are oriented North.• The wall is vertical and declining from south.• Zarbula already knew the sundial’s size and location on the wall.

Principle 1: Horizontal Equivalence

• Any Vertical Declining sundial has a equivalent horizontal sundial at in the southern hemisphere at a different latitude

• Determine the sub-style distance and sub-style height for the polar axis

• Lay out the hourlines for the horizontal equivalent

XII

He draws the vertical noon line XII and marks the centre C

C

He drives in a horizontal style at C perpendicular to the wall

Zarbula’s Method

XII

C

Zarbula draws point by point a

hyperbolic declination line,

representing of the path of the

tip of the shadow.

Principle 2: Indian or Hindu Circle for Sub-style

P 1

P 2

Zarbula draws the sub-style, the axis of symmetry of the dial

S

XII

C

Zarbula’s Method

XII

Center of sundial C

NOON LINE XII

S

SUB-STYLE

Zarbula’s Method

C

S

M

45°

45°

M ’

The perpendicular gnomon gives the shadow path to set the sub-style line. For the actual dial, polar style is from the intersection of the noon meridian and the same sub-style line.

Zarbula’s Method

Principle 3: Rotation of the Meridian Plane

• Meridian plane shows the Latitude , Co-Latitude, Polar style and Equatorial true size

• Rotation of the Meridian plane about the Meridian axis to the Sub-style, perpendicular to the wall, shows the Substyle Height

• Rotation defines the Equatorial Horizon plane

C

Noon

Lat

Co-LatPol

ar S

tyle

Equatorial

M

C

Noon to equinox

45°

45°

45°

Define the Equatorial Horizon by rotating the meridian plane and the latitude angle around the vertical Meridian axis

Zarbula’s Method

S

He draws a horizontal line

M

C

45°

45°

45°Horizon

Zarbula’s Method

S

He draws an equatorial line perpendicular to the sub-style line

M

C

Horizon

45°

45°

Equatorial

Zarbula’s Method

S

He draws the 6 o’clock (18h) line to the equatorial horizon

M

C

Horizon 18h

Equatorial

Zarbula’s Method

S

If it’s morning declining,

he draws the 6 am line

M

C

Horizon

Equatorial

6h

Zarbula’s Method

S

M

C

Horizontal line

48°

18h

Equatorial

Generalised method for different latitudes

Example Chicago = 42°

42°

Zarbula’s Method

S

Zarbula draws the center W of an auxiliary equatorial

M

C

Horizon

Equatorial

O

18h

12h

W

?

?

?

Zarbula’s Method

Vertical méridional sundial Villevieille church, Queyras

Principle 4: Always 90º between noon and 6 o’clock

S

Starting from auxiliary equatorial centre W, he draws the 15° angles to the equatorial line

M

C

Horizontal line

Equatorial

18h

12h

W

R

Sub-Style Height is RW, radius of the auxiliary equatorial circle

Zarbula’s Method

S

The intersections are numbered in sequence from noon to 18 o clock

M

C

Horizon line

Equatorial

18h

12h

W

11h

14h

16h15h

13h

10h

19h

17h

9h

Zarbula’s Method

S

The only thing left is to draw the hours lines from C point...

M

C

Horizon line

Equatorial

18h

11h

14h

16h15h

13h

10h

19h

17h

9h

Zarbula’s Method

S

M

C

Horizontal Line

Equatorial

18h

11h

14h

16h15h

13h

10h

19h

17h

9h

Installation of the Polar Style (Gnomon) above the Sub-Style Line

Sub-Style Height is theRadius of the auxillary equatorial circle

Zarbula’s Method

Principles of Zarbula’s Method

• Horizontal Equivalence of Vertical Decliner• Indian (Hindu) Circle for sub-style line• Meridian plane contains Latitude true size• Rotate Meridian plane to establish Horizon

plane Equatorial line and 6 o’clock line• 90º between Noon and 6 o’clock • Equatorial Tangent line for hour lines and

Sub-style Height• The geometry is correct; the method is

accurate, within some limitations

Test of Zarbula’s Method

1. Sub-style line

Latitude: 48.6º NDeclination: 58º E

Shadow Path for 14 June

Noon

36.8°

Distance

Sub-Style

Sub-Style

Declination Line

Noon

Substyle

Horizon

Equinox

56

7

9

12

11

10

81.40

36.8°

SH

SD

311.4°

Lat

12:30

13

Zabula Test: Latitude N 48.6º Substyle 36.8ºTest of Zarbula’s Method

2. Equatorial Tangent Line

DeltaCAD design drawingusing Zarbula’s Method gives identical results to trig calculations

Zarbula’s ToolsSticks and String

• Sticks– ruler, straight edge– set square 45º & 90º– compass, dividers– gnomon

• String– plumb bob– chalk line – compass

Zarbula’s Painting

• Fresco technique on parged masonry walls

• Mineral oxide pigments on fresh lime mortar

• No organic materials

• Weather and sun resistant

• Quick bold strokes

Ochre de Provence

Pigments :

Ochre (iron oxides) for yellow orange &, red.

black soot, zinc oxide white, cobalt blue, copper greens Sienne earths.

ZONE ZARBULA South

LES TANCS1

LES ORRES1

UBAYE2

QUEYRAS

38 sundials

Château Queyras

QUEYRAS

EYGLIERS2

CERVIERES3

CHÂTEAU QUEYRAS

12

ABRIES

4

MOLINES2

SAINT VERAN7

AIGUILLES

1

ARVIEUX

7

LES ESCOYERES

First Known Zarbula DialQueyras, Arvieux, le Coin

1832 QUEYRAS

Arvieux, Les Escoyères

VIHORIZON

EQUATORIAL

1839 Cervières,

Customs Office

Original Restored

by Evelyne and

Norbert Peyrot 2000

18?? QUEYRAS

Château Villevieille

Clot du Riou

1840 - Zarbula’s Miracle Year

• Twelve Zarbula dials dated 1840• Eight Queyras (6-St. Veran, 2-Chateau)• Two Vallouise, • Two Briançonnais (Clarée, Salle les

Alpes)• 1830 to 1839 only six Zarbula dials• Apprenticeship done, artistic style set• Breakthrough commission? Vallouise, Bardonnèche

Vallouise 1840

• Zarbula’s breakthrough commission

• Home of Françoise Ponce,Viscountess de Bardonnèche

• Zarbula’s techniques and style established

• Restored in 1991 by Pique & Bachet of Atelier Tournesol, Grenoble

St Véran at 2040 mThe Highest village in Europe31 Sundials, 7 by Zarbula

1840

Saint Véran

Haut Forannes

1840 Saint VéranMathieu Romain farm

1840

Saint Véran

Le Raux

1840: Saint Véran Forannes

Pierre Belle

1840: Saint Véran

1858 St Véran Pierre Belle

Restored in 1995 by Rémi PoteyGite Gabelous

Queyras, Arvieux

Les Escoyères,

1857 Original

Les Escoyères chapel dial

Restored by Rémi Potey

Suzon ConWith Susan

1861 Eygliers, Le Cros Guillestre

Complementary corner dial lost

Rose Marble

Briançon Hautes Alpes

• The highest city in Europe

• Crossroads for Alpine pass

• Vauban fortress near Italian border

• 1719 dial on Collégiale Notre-Dame

1876: BriançonPlace d’Armes

Most Zarbula sundials are in the surrounding alpine villages

1876: Briançon, Place d’Armes

Zarbula?

1842: Briancon, Puy St Pierre, Le Pinet

Restored by E & N Peyrot

1843: Clarée, Val des Prés

1869 : Vallouise Le Villard St Sébastien

1869 : Vallouise Le Villard St Sébastien

1869 : Vallouise, Le Villard, St Sébastien

Zarbula dials and paintings restored in 1997 by Atelier Tournesol, Pique & Bachet

1869: Le Villard Vallouise

PM dial is almost south facing

“Don’t rely on the firstas all depends on the last”

6 o’clock line is off the dial

Morning dial is close to east facing.Zarbula’s normal method does not work

Black Madonna

“I am black, but comely,O ye daughters of Jerusalem” Song of Solomon, 1:5

Zarbula’s Painting of the

ZONE ZARBULA EAST

Italy, Piedmont

Val Chisone

USSEAUX

1PRAGELATO

5TRAVERSES

2SESTRIERE

6

Turin Olympics 2006

Val Chisone

1870 : Sestriere, Champlas du Col, via Nationale

1870 : Sestriere, Champlas du Col, via Nationale

Close the shutter...

“I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem”

1872 Sestriere Borgata,

1872 : Sestriere, Borgata,

1872 Sestriere, Borgata

14 viaColle de Sestriere

1872 : Zarbula Original

Sestriere, Borgata

Restoration?

1872 Sestriere, Borgata12A via Colle de Sestriere

1872 Sestriere, Borgata 12A

Sundial EntropyLost Zarbula’s

• Paints wash away• Grime obscures• Parging spalls • Gnomons bend and

break• Walls crack and fall• Renovation and

development destroy • Fires, floods,

avalanches

1853 : Saint Martin de Queyrières, Prelles

This sundial disappeared in 2003

TIME IS RUNNING OUT JUST LIKE WATER.

Aiguilles 1889102 Buildings destroyed

In Château Queyras : flood level in 1957

In Abries, Zarbula’s sundial

destroyed in 1944 bombardment

Restorations:Club du Vieux Manoir

• Patrimony: history, cultural, architecture

• 13 sundials restored in Brianconnais 1984-2000

1870: St Martin de Queyrières Church

Restorations: Solaria s.n.c

• Lucio Maria Morro & Fabio Garnero

• FOSSANO (Cuneo) It • Sundial creation &

restoration • Many Italian dials• Zarbula Restoration

http://www.solariameridiane.com/313/L109.html

1872 Sestriere, Champlas du Col

1843 Château Queyras Villevieille

•Fresco painter•Creative artist•Many modern dials•Hautes Alpes, Haute Provence, Buëch•Restorations:

–St Véran–Château Queyras

Restorations: Rémi Potey

Jean-François Gavoty

• Creative artist, painter, cadranier

• Professor fine arts– Ecole des Beaux Arts,

Strasburg, Grenoble, Lyon

• Haute Provence, Ubaye– Maljasset– Serenne

1860 Serrenes, Ubaye, Alpes de Haute Provence

RestorationsAtelier Tournesol

• Pique & Bachet• Inventories,

protection• Grenoble, Savoie,

Hautes Alpes• Vallouise:

– Bardoneche– Le Villard, St

Sebastien

Evelyne & Norbert Peyrot

1847 : SAINT-CHAFFREY, Villard-Late,

Restoration of sundials and fresco paintings in Briançonnais, Val de Clarée, Val des Prés

18?? : Savoie, Valloire, Les Verneys

1998 : Renovated by Peyrot

THE END

Alain Ferreira & Roger Bailey2005 : Destroyed -Valloire Town Hall

Acknowledgements & References

• Alain Ferreira: co-author ideas, slides, pictures, files

• Internet: Google, SML • A. Gunella: L’ Orologio Francese e il

detto DI ZARBULA per trovare la declinazione del muro

• A. Bouchard: Zarbula Dossier, Le Gnomoniste, mars 2005

• P. Gagnaire: L’ Equerre et le Oiseau

• P.Putelat & G. Ducrot: Cadrans Solaires Traditionnels en Queyras – Briançonnais

• Cadrans Solaires Français Catalogués; SAF CCS

Emmanuel Defever*** Sommelier