This study for an almanach print was found among the Peel Collection, a group of over 3300 prints formed by Sir Robert Peel of mostly British political satires housed in nine volumes. The inscriptions reveal it to be the invention of a French artist, using the premise of a game of skittles (an antecedent of bowling) to lampoon the random formation of allegiances related to the League of Augsburg (Grand Alliance) which opposed France in 1689. The game of jeu de quilles was a popular subject for humorous prints in the 1680s and 90s. The print, measuring 875 x 542 mm, was published in Paris by Jean Moncornet (1642-1716), though the designer of the print remains unknown. An impression is preserved in the Bibliotheque nationale de France, Est. : Qb-5 (1693)-Ft 5.
Inscribed at center, on bench, Notaire Hollande dont letude [?] remplye est de promesse; outside of image at upper center, Jeu de quille[s] des allies; at upper right, nom des allies / Lempereur / Lespagne / Langleterre / La Hollande / Brandbourg / Baudre / Vertemburg / [?] eues / Mayence / Savoye / Saxe / hesse / Liege / Zel / Brunswik / hanover / palatin / Munster / Cologne; at left, [illegible]; at lower center, 1. Promesse aux anglois du fair [illegible]; 2. Promesse a leur [illegible] la france; 3. Promesse de Lespagne du conserves [?] la flandre; 4. Promesse au duc de [?] de la [?]; 5. Promesse au duc du Savoye du dauphine; 6. Promesse au hollandois de les [?] au [?] de la france; 7. Promesse au liegois [?] de les [?]; 8. Promesse au brandbourg par au [?] de la france; 9. Promesse au palatin des du donnaye [?] pour son pays vigne.
Watermark: unknown.
Morgan, J. Pierpont (John Pierpont), 1837-1913, former owner.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.