Adolph Ludvig Gustaf Fredric Albert Couschi – nicknamed Badin, from the French word for a prankster – was probably born in 1747 on the West Indian island of St Croix. He came to Sweden around 1760 and became a foster-son of Queen Lovisa Ulrika. She commissioned this portrait to be painted in a single day, 4 July 1775. Badin is dressed in an “Indian” costume. He has just won a game of chess, and like the knight could move unhindered about the court.