Painting features 'oldest watch'

Art experts think they may have found the world's oldest painting to feature an image of a watch. The Science Museum is investigating the 450-year-old portrait, thought to be of Cosimo I de Medici, Duke of Florence, holding a golden timepiece. Curators have sent their findings to renaissance experts at the Uffizi gallery in Florence, and are awaiting their comments. the painting is being shown as part of the museum's Measuring Time gallery. The first watches appeared shortly after 1500 in Germany and horologists believe the picture, painted by renaissance master Maso da San Friano around 1560.

Science Museum curator Rob Skitmore said the watch was thought to be from southern Germany. The painting has been in the museum's collection for 33 years after being acquired from a private donor. As it was being taken out of storage for the gallery, curators decided to research the painting - which was when they made their discovery. The Measuring Time gallery traces the history of timekeeping and contains one of the biggest collections of clocks in Britain - declares the BBC News.