Gustav Klimt

Born in Vienna, in 1862, into a lower

middle-class family of Moravian origin.
Gustav Klimt, was an influential Austrian
painter of the late 19th Century, one of the
founders and leaders of the Vienna
Secession art movement, although he
would later move beyond it.
His father was an engraver and goldsmith.
Gustav was sent to the Vienna School of
Arts and Crafts, in order to follow in his
father's footsteps. As na exceptional
student, he was given the chance to attend
classes at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts.
Klimt soon demonstrated his talent and
1862-1918 would be commissioned to paint several
large decorative works by the age of twenty.
 After finishing his studies, Klimt opened a studio together with his two
brothers, specialized in interior decoration, particularly theaters. Already by
the 1880s, they were renowned for their skill and decorated theaters
throughout the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and much of their work can still be
seen there. In 1880, Klimt was commissioned to paint the Auditorium of the
Old Burgtheater. This painting, with its almost photographic accuracy is
considered one of the greatest achievements in Naturalist painting, and was
awarded the Emperor's Prize. Paradoxically, it was at this point, that Klimt
began turning towards the radical new styles of the Art Noveau. focusing on
experimentation and the study of contemporary styles of art, as well as
historical styles that were overlooked within the establishment, such as
Japanese, Chinese, Ancient Egyptian and Mycenaean art.
Although educated as classicist, his use of bright, vivid colors and the
widespread use of symbolic objects in his paintings would set the trends for
the entire period, and would have a profound influence on Viennese Art
Noveau and the Secession movement ( founded in 1897), that was against
the classicist establishment, which it found to be oppressive.
In 1903, he visited Italy twice and was profoundly influenced by the golden
mosaics of Ravenna. This marked the beginning of his "golden style."
By 1910, Klimt had moved past his Golden Style, and in 1912,
he changed the background from gold to blue.
The Old Burgtheater
Theater in Taormina
1886-88
Sappho
1888-90
Music 1895
Sonja
Knips
1898
Pallas Athena 1898
 Schubert at the Piano 1899
( Destroyed by fire at Schloss Immerdorf in 1945 )
Judith and Holopherne
1901
Goldfish 1901-1902
Portrait of a Girl
1902
Portrait of Emilie Flöge
1902
Hope I 1903
Farmhouse with Birch Trees 1903
Country Garden with Sunflowers 1905-1906
Portrait of Margarethe
Stoneborough-
Wittgenstein
1905
The Three Ages of Woman
1905
 Hope II
1907-1908
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I 1907
 Hygeia
(Detail of Medicine)
1900-1907
The Kiss 1907-1908
Danae 1907-1908
Death and Life 1908-1916
Judith II (Salome) 1909
Adele Bloch-
Bauer II
1912
The Virgin 1914
Fredericke Maria Beer 1916
Lady with Fan 1917-1918
 Baby 1917

Baby 1917-1918
Adam and Eva
(unfinished)
1917-1918
Friends 1917 (Destroyed by fire in 1945)
Portrait of
Mäda
Primavesi
1921
Klimt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1918.
He continued painting until the very end and
many of his final works remained unfinished.

CM