Reference number
P01789
Author
Teniers, David
Title
The Skittles Game
Chronology
1650 - 1660
Technique
Óleo
Support
Tabla
Measures
42 cm x 71 cm
School
Flamenca
Theme
Género y sociedad
On display
No
Procedence
Royal Collection

As part of his many genre scenes, Teniers frequently depicted players of skittles or other peasant games, such as bocce, which were very popular entertainment in seventeenth-century Flanders.

The compositional scheme used by Teniers is similar to other works by him. At one end, the volumes of the houses serve as a backdrop for the scene, at the other, separated here by an earthen mound, the perspective leads to a background of landscape with a small village.

The presence of an obelisk is the most singular aspect of this painting in which Teniers repeats motives from other works, such as the group of drinkers in front of the door, or the figure leaning out of it.

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