The painting was thought to have disappeared
Gustav Klimt’s unfinished late work “Portrait of Miss Lizer” was sold at an auction at the Viennese auction house “Im Kinski” for 30 million euros. Along with the additional costs, the work changed hands for a total of 35 million euros. This is a new record both for the auction house and for Austria.
The auction aroused worldwide media interest, as Klimt’s paintings have been sold at quite high prices in recent years. Specialists expected that the price of “Portrait of Miss Leeser” will exceed the sum of 70 million euros.
After almost a century: They discovered a masterpiece of Gustav Klimt, considered lost (PHOTO)
The previous owners of the work inherited it from distant relatives about two years ago, and before that “Portrait of Miss Leeser” was passed down through several generations, Im Kinski reports.
The work is believed to have been shown to an audience at an exhibition in Vienna in 1925. Between 1925 and the 1960s, its fate was unknown – as was its whereabouts during National Socialism, when the Lieser family was persecuted for his Jewish origin. According to the auction house, after intensive research, there is no evidence that the painting was confiscated at the time. “On the other hand, no evidence was found that it was not seized between 1938 and 1945,” they added.
A painting by the artist Gustav Klimt, believed to be missing for 100 years has been discovered in Vienna. The portrait of Fraulein Lieser has been valued at more than 54 million dollars. pic.twitter.com/CelfnI1eJR
— Jim Beattie (@JimBeattie18) https://twitter.com/JimBeattie18/status/1750903082320355487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Due to uncertainties surrounding the origin of the painting, the proceeds must be divided among several possible legal heirs based on an agreement in accordance with the so-called “Washington Principles”.
According to “Im Kinski”, this is also the reason why the work, which caused a worldwide sensation, was not sold at an auction in London or New York. The significantly smaller Viennese auction house not only has years of experience with Klimt works, but also in dealing with stolen art cases.
){kind=link}