King Louis XIV and his cavalcade approaching the Île des Faisans

Lespinasse specialized in extraordinarily detailed bird's-eye urban views. The present drawing shows the large cavalcade of Louis XIV approaching the Île des Faisans to sign the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. The Treaty of the Pyrenees ended the Franco-Spanish War fought between 1635 and 1659, which was an offshoot of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). As a result, the Île des Faisans situated on the borders of France and Spain was jointly ruled by the two countries. In Lespinasse's drawing, the island is clearly seen between the towns of Hendaye (France) and Irun (Spain) which are shown in the centre of the composition marked 'H' and 'I' respectively.  Another provision of the treaty was the marriage of Maria Theresa, King Philip IV's eldest daughter to King Louis XIV in 1660, ensuring the peace.

Lespinasse made this drawing after an engraving published in 1659 by Sébastien Pontault de Beaulieu (d. 1674) (see British Museum, London, inv. 1925,0728.16). The drawing is more detailed than the engraving but omits the cartouche and key at the top.