He who falls first pays the player, the last, the costs

He who falls first pays the player, the last, the costs

• Paye qui Tombe / Die eerst valt betaelt de Speelman, die laest, de Kosten
• Troupe van Royale Koordedanssers, Onderhouden by 't Hof van Vrankrijk

RP-P-OB-55.187

Here, we see the Catholic monarchs recast as tightrope walkers in a circus, performing a balancing act to stay in power. This metaphor illustrates their precarious situation in a way that viewers can easily understand. Stadtholder-King William III provides musical accompaniment for the dance. As King James II of England tumbles from the tightrope, Louis XIV steps up to try his skill.

Atlas van Stolk 2815

• print maker: attributed to Romeyn de Hooghe, Netherlands
• after own design by: after design of Romeyn de Hooghe (attributed to), Netherlands

1689

ets, gravure en boekdruk

height 557 mm x width 412 mm

Public domain

• Atlas van Stolk 2815
• FMH 2766-a
• Frederik Muller, De Nederlandsche geschiedenis in platen : beredeneerde beschrijving van Nederlandsche historieplaten, zinneprenten en historische kaarten, 4 delen, F. Muller, Amsterdam 1863-1882, dl. I (jaren 100 tot 1702), p. 423, nr. 2766a.
• Hollstein Dutch 160

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:

https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/200204478