In the 18th century, like now, Djurgården in Stockholm was a place for excursions, picnics and entertainments. It was regarded as an archetypical pastoral idyll. The sculptor Sergel, when asked by Gustav III whether he had seen any English parks in Europe during his years abroad, answered: “I saw the most beautiful English park more than 12 ago, before leaving Sweden. Your Majesty has it on his property, the beautiful Fiskartorpet on the island of Djurgården.”