“Colonel Gustafsson”, former Gustav IV Adolf, King of Sweden

This miniature portrait shows the former Swedish King Gustav IV Adolf (1792-1809) during the latter part of his life. He then called himself “Colonel Gustafsson” and lived as a recluse at the simple inn “Zum Weissen Rössli” in St. Gallen, Switzerland, where he died in 1837. The portrait is one of the last images of him and at the same time a reminder of his tragic destiny.