Object Image

Baron Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt in Florence

Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, Swedish ambassador to the Italian courts, is shown with Florence’s le Cascine in the background. On his knee is Voltaire’s La mort de César. He contemplates busts of the murdered Julius Caesar and Gustav III. Armfelt fell out of favour after the Swedish king’s death. The painting has a political message, and not unexpectedly it was used as evidence when Armfelt in his absence was sentenced to death for high treason.

Credit: Gift 1927 Countess Sofie Nordenfalk

Signed 1793

Oil on canvas

50.0 x 65.5 cm

NM 2654

Image and text © Nationalmuseum Sweden, 2019

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Nationalmuseum Sweden
Nationalmuseum Sweden

Permanent collection