Game of Couples, 1798, Ink, Wash and Pencil

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Description

“jeux des couples” / “game of couples”

equestrian choreographic study

ca. 1785–1798

ink, wash, and pencil on j. Honig & … Read more “jeux des couples” / “game of couples”

equestrian choreographic study

ca. 1785–1798

ink, wash, and pencil on j. Honig & zoon laid paper

late 18th century

original equestrian drawing in pencil, ink, and wash on handmade laid paper with the watermark “j. Honig & zoon,” corresponding to the prestigious dutch paper mills active in zaandijk during the 18th century.

the compositions depict different figures and movements of the so-called “game of couples,” a choreographic exercise typical of the aristocratic equestrian academies of the ancien régime in europe.

the scenes show complex geometric paths of riders performing synchronized high school maneuvers, with trajectories indicated by dotted lines and movement diagrams, revealing a clear technical and preparatory character.

the iconography is directly related to equestrian carousels and horse games held in french and central european courtly settings during the last third of the 18th century, especially those associated with riding academies, aristocratic spectacles, and riding arena exercises.

the figures' attire—low bicorn hats, close-fitting coats in pastel colors, long ponytails, and a late rococo courtly aesthetic—allows the group to be placed with remarkable precision between the final years of louis xvi's reign and the period of the french directory, approximately between 1785 and 1798.

the horses are depicted with remarkable technical refinement and ornamental flair, still maintaining the elegant 18th-century graphic style that predates the militarized aesthetic of the napoleonic era. The execution reveals an expert hand, likely that of a draftsman specializing in equestrian, decorative, or academic subjects.

the use of honig dutch paper, highly prized by european miniaturists, architects, and technical draftsmen, reinforces the authenticity and historical coherence of the set.

summary of technical details

technique: pencil, ink, and wash on laid paper.
paper: watermark “j. Honig & zoon”.
school: french or central european.
subject: equestrian exercises / “game of the couples”.
chronology: ca. 1785–1798.

condition: original set.

support: handmade paper.

pencil, ink, and wash on laid paper with watermark.

38.5 x 26.5 cm, unframed.

watermark: fleur-de-lis inscribed within a shield with a crown at the top and a honeycomb at the bottom.

reference bibliography:

domenico rossi. Matilde lópez serrano (ed.). Las parejas. Juego hípico del siglo xviii [the pairs. An 18th-century horse game]. Patrimonio nacional, madrid, 1987.

ink and wash drawing depicting scenes from the juego de parejas (pairs' game), one of the most refined equestrian spectacles held in europe during the 18th century.

this game originated in medieval tournaments, inherited from feudal and chivalric traditions, and evolved during the baroque period into a highly sophisticated courtly spectacle.

it was a unique form of entertainment for the nobility and remained prevalent in courtly culture throughout the 18th century.

this type of game was introduced to spain by the house of bourbon and reached its peak during the reign of philip v.

these celebrations were integrated into major public events, such as royal weddings, dynastic celebrations, and other extraordinary festivities, alongside bullfights, jousting tournaments, fireworks, dances, and theatrical performances.

these events were held, among other reasons, to celebrate the recovery of philip v's health, the wedding of louis i to louise of orléans in 1722, and the marriage of the prince of asturias—the future charles iv—to maria luisa of parma in 1765.

the depictions show the riders executing various tournament figures—wheels, circles, and angles—with great precision. The main objective of these games was to showcase the perfect dressage of the horse and the absolute mastery of the rider, transforming equestrian exercise into an artistic expression of an almost choreographic nature.

the costumes alternate various colors—greens, blues, oranges, and yellows—adding dynamism and visual richness to the scenes.

these works can be related to the 36 plates of the palatine manuscript *las parejas o siano le quadriglie del real torneo* (the couples or quadrigles of the royal tournament), by domenico rossi, published in naples in 1781 and dedicated to the prince of asturias. This is a fundamental reference for the study of these equestrian games, as noted in the national heritage bibliography.

the drawing features a watermark on the paper that matches that observed in several drawings held at the royal academy of fine arts of san fernando, including fernando selma's study of bacchus borghese (c. 1769) and maría ramona palafox y portocarrero's study of two male heads (c. 1790). This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
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