Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie inherited Läckö from his father, Jakob, who had been granted Läckö in 1615, along with the title Count of Läckö. Here, he is depicted as a great commander, bearing a youthful wig, Roman costume and a ceremonial baton. In 1674, the Italian diplomat Magalotti described him as “certainly the most beautiful man in the world, with a lively countenance and a natural elegance. He speaks Latin, Italian, French, German and Dutch. He understands political issues
excellently and is especially well-informed about political conditions in Europe […] and is the greatest profligate in the world.” It was no surprise that Queen Kristina sent him to France as ambassador in 1646. The queen wanted to make an impression and Magnus Gabriel understood how to achieve this. He was accompanied by 200–300 people and made a magnificent arrival in Paris. The results of the diplomatic negotiations were as successful as the unceasing entertainments and festivities. He had received 10,000 riksdaler from the Swedish state, but the final bill amounted to 175,788 riksdaler. Expensive – but the queen was satisfied and signed off on all the bills.