Franz Niklaus König was an artillery captain, painter, etcher, engraver, lithographer, drawing teacher and writer. He created traditional costume paintings, vedute and portraits, but was also known for his banner paintings, which he presented both in his transparent piaaintings cabinet in Bern and - while traveling - in his "Diaphanorama".
Sources: https://recherche.sik-isea.ch/sik:person-4023112 and https://www.kleinmeister.ch/de/t/koenig-franz-niklaus [10.08.2023]
Franz Niklaus König was introduced to the art of decorative painting at an early age in his father's workshop and was later allowed to continue his training with Tiberius and Marquard Wocher in Bern. He continued his training with the Bernese Kleinmeister Sigmund Freudenberger. He learned printmaking techniques from Balthasar Anton Dunker.
"He first lived in Interlaken Castle, then in Unterseen Castle from 1803-09. [King's time in the Bernese Oberland (1797-1809) was the most artistically productive phase of his life. He devoted himself to small-scale art (colored outline etchings, lithographs, watercolours, small oil paintings) intended for a tourist audience. He is also actively involved in promoting tourism, which has so far focused on the cities. Travelers are welcome in his studio, and he even offers guest rooms in Unterseen Castle. Together with the Bernese Schultheissen von Mülinen and Sigmund Wagner, he initiated the folkloristic alpine pasture festivals of Unspunnen in 1805 and 1808, which were suitable subjects for etchings. König's series of prints were very popular."
Source: https://recherche.sik-isea.ch/sik:person-4023112 [10.08.2023]
Paintings of traditional costumes had been very popular since Johann Ludwig Aberli. The highlight in this genre is the large edition of traditional costume pictures by Franz Niklaus König, which he etched and colored after a collection of paintings by Josef Reinhard (1749-1824).
König opened a "Transparent Cabinet" in 1815. His travels through Switzerland, Germany and Paris with his portable "Diaphanorama" - a kind of peep box - were a great success. Initially stationary in Bern, and later traveling through Switzerland, Germany and France, he presented his transparent, backlit landscape paintings. König thus made a significant contribution to the development of tourism in the Bernese Oberland.