Jeu de paume Jeu de paume Jeu de paume (; ) is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, though these were eventually introduced. It is a former Olympic sport, and has the oldest ongoing annual world championship in sport, first established over 250 years ago. Originally spelled jeu de paulme, now it is called "real tennis" , court tennis (US) or courte paume (France). In the earliest versions of the game, the players hit the ball with their hands, as in palla, volleyball, or certain varieties of pelota. "Jeu de paume", or
Hampton Court Beauties century. Isabella Bennet, Duchess of Grafton (1667–1713), Margaret Cecil, Countess of Ranelagh (1672–1727), Carey Fraser, Countess of Peterborough (c.1658–1709), Frances Whitmore, Lady Middleton (1666–1694), Mary Scrope, later Mrs Pitt (born 1676), Diana De Vere, Duchess of St Albans (1679–1742), Lady Mary Bentinck, Countess of Essex (died 1726), Mary Compton, Countess of Dorset (1669–1691) Hampton Court Beauties The Hampton Court Beauties are a series of portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller, commissioned by Queen Mary II of England, depicting the most glamorous ladies from the court of William III. They adorn the state rooms of King William III at Hampton Court Palace.