Karl XI's Life's Highest Goal
1680
Meet Tott, the legendary black stallion who served as the favorite riding horse of King Charles XI of Sweden. Painted by court artist David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl in 1680, this Baroque masterpiece captures the powerful horse mid-prance, showing off his glossy coat and distinctive white socks against a sweeping landscape. He stands proudly before a stone monument that actually bears his name and lineage in Latin, immortalizing him as a true royal companion rather than just a beast of burden. It's a fascinating glimpse into how 17th-century royalty treated their prized animals like true celebrities.
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