On the evening of Wednesday 24 April the "Portrait of Fräulein Lieser"of Gustav Klimt achieved the highest price ever paid for a work of art in Austria at auction. The successful auction by the Viennese auction house im Kinsky saw the painting, thought lost for many decades, purchased for 30 million euros (35 million euros including acquisition commissions) by Patti Wong & Associates on behalf of an anonymous buyer.
The discovery of the portrait of the lady dating back to the last creative phase of Gustav Klimt's Art Nouveau star caused a sensation around the world when it was presented in January this year. As a result, international interest in the sale was enormous, with many participants and media from all over the world present on auction day in the beautiful hall im Kinsky's historic auction house.
The work of art had remained hidden for over 100 years in a private Austrian estate
The mystery of the model
This is the story of a woman with dark brown hair, a porcelain complexion and kind eyes. A woman dressed in a blue cloak adorned with flowers and a mint-colored dress, against a background of various shades of red. Begun in 1917 and still unfinished, the painting contains a mystery that has never been solved since Gustav Klimt died in 1918: who is this woman? The painting reappeared on the market in 2022 and had been identified in 1925 as belonging to Lilly Lieser. Then after the war there were subsequent reconstructions indicating the ownership to his brother-in-law Adolf Lieser who commissioned it to Klimt to portray his daughter Margarethe. But it is more likely that it was Lilly Lieser herself, a woman very involved in the intellectual world of the period, who asked Klimt to portray one of her two daughters.
Annie or Helene? Curiosity remains!
The “Portrait of Fräulein Lieser” – an exceptional lot in terms of quality, importance and international value – has been in the most caring hands since its rediscovery. Her background and her history have been thoroughly researched, as have her background and her history. The marvelous work was then presented to international markets and potential buyers.
Due to the great interest, the auction house will offer a further free public viewing of the Klimt painting on 29 and 30 April and 2 and 3 May. Opening hours are 10am to 00pm, no registration required.
Born in Austria in 1862, Gustav Klimt was a leading figure of Viennese symbolism
His works, influenced by Art Nouveau, are recognizable by their delicate golden ornaments. Leader of the secessionist movement, which aimed to promote Austrian art around the world, Klimt's reputation was further strengthened by the numerous portraits he painted for the bourgeoisie towards the end of his career. The “Portrait of Fräulein Lieser” is an emblematic example.
