Gustaf Reuter

Reuter was known for the decorative painting of entire room interiors, usually with biblical motifs or horsemen, in Delsbo and surrounding parishes.

Court records show that he was the son of priest's daughter Margareta Andersdotter Lebestadia in Himmeta, Västmanland (born 1677).

Lieutenant Gustaf Gustafsson Reuter af Skälboö (1669–1732), who was claimed to be the father was already married and denied fatherhood, but eventually lost the case in November 1699 at the municipal court in Köping.

[3] According to church records Gustaf Reuter would spend some of his early years at the clergy house in Himmeta, and stayed in Delsbo parish from around 1718.

[10] Reuter divided the walls into sections framed by painted leaf ornaments, draperies, flowers and fruits.

At the middle 18th century planks were increasingly used to create flat ceilings, which offered new opportunities for Reuter and his colleagues.

Factoring in destroyed or otherwise lost pieces his total production is most likely far higher, and fragments from earlier room designs have been found rolled up for storage in regional farmhouses.

[15] Gustaf Reuter belonged to a group of artists and apprentices who became custodians of a trademark style, referred to as the Delsbo School by ethnologist Sigurd Erixon.

[18] Among the active 18th century painters in Hälsingland, Gustaf Reuter and his associates are responsible for a significant portion of the total number of preserved works.

Since the building itself turned out to be in awful condition, only decoratively painted rolls of linen weave were recovered from the main hall.

[21][22] For a long time, the wall decorations were also considered the work of Reuter, but there are traces of a stencil known to belong to Erik Ersson.