Collection of Ball and Stage Dances, written down by the French dance master, F. Le Rousseau. This work follows in the great tradition of French dancing, which was modelled after the examples set by M. Feuillet and M. Pecour. The notation and distribution of dances through books such this were encouraged by the popular dances held in the court of Louis XIV. Following the death of Louis XIV, noble men and women were still known to be influential patrons of dance and there remained a high demand for dances and dance material, whether in formal or comical style. This particular page shows a solo dance for a Harlequin and is an example of the intricate choreography that was laid out for each dance. It illustrates one of the typical ways in which diagrams and music were displayed.