Lilac Sundial — Purple Fruit Bat Sundial Maker

The story of Lilac Sundial

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

The courtyard clock measures the short stretch of daylight between two rows of arches. Its maker has returned with a small set of tools because the shadow began to drift across the dial after the stone settled over winter. The dial still looks level to anyone walking past. The maker can tell which corner moved by looking at the angle between the pointer and its own shadow.

The fruit bat has purple fur, a pale lilac ruff, and tall ears that rise above the olive coat. Folded wings darken the sides of the silhouette. Gloved hands hold the bronze pointer at its base and near its tip. Ochre stone, potted herbs, and bright climbing flowers give the courtyard a warmer palette than the figure at the center.

In the story, the nearby shopkeepers use the clock to decide when to turn the courtyard's shared awning. Even a small error leaves the herb pots exposed during the hottest part of the day. The maker lets the shadow cross one marked line and checks it against a portable dial before tightening the fastener.

The scene catches a repair that depends on patience as much as tools. The circle of the sundial fills the foreground, with its long shadow set against the curved metalwork. Beyond it, the passage between the arches is still cool enough for the afternoon market to open.

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