Tempus Pecunia Est
Painting - Tempus Pecunia Est; Time is Money

Copyright © Richard Harpum

About this Painting

Tempus Pecunia Est is a theme that I first used in 2004 when painting a commission for someone who wanted a “surrealist” painting.  I struggled for a long time to come up with an original idea and eventually settled for the hourglass and a melting clock, similar to Dali’s but morphing into cash in the lower half of the hourglass.

Although I have an hourglass as a reference, the way the watch and money sit inside it and the way the light plays on both these and the glass required a considerable amount of thought and creative imagination.   I hope that I have pulled it off, so that the final result looks convincing.

This painting was featured in a 10-page article in the June 2010 issue of International Artist Magazine.


Tempus Pecunia Est

(Time is Money)

by Richard Harpum MA

Type and Sizes

Size of original: 18" x 10" (46cm x 25cm)

Giclée Print

Painting Reference Number: 135

Original Sold

Prices of Limited Edition Prints (numbered, signed, unframed):

  • Studio Proof** canvas print (full size); Edition size 25: £270; US$446; €338 + shipping
  • Giclée print*** on 300 gsm paper (full size): Edition size 50: £135; US$223; €169 + shipping
  • Giclée print on 300 gsm paper in 12x16" (30 x 41cm) double mount; Edition size 200:£37; US$61; €46 + shipping

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* Prices in US Dollars and Euros are those used by the artist but may vary depending upon the prevailing exchange rates and the method of payment.

** A Studio Proof canvas print is a giclée print on canvas that is hand-embellished by the artist using the same medium as the original painting (usually acrylic), signed, numbered and then coated in 3 layers of UV-resistant varnish. It is then mounted on stretchers ready for framing.

*** Giclée printing is an advanced form of ink jet printing that applies a wide range of coloured inks that are designed to be light-fast for at least 75 years.