He who falls first pays the player, the last, the costs, Romeyn de Hooghe (attributed to), after Romeyn de Hooghe, 1689

He who falls first pays the player, the last, the costs, Romeyn de Hooghe (attributed to), after Romeyn de Hooghe, 1689

etching, h 557mm × w 412mm More details

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.