Vienna’s art world is abuzz with excitement after discovering a Gustav Klimt painting that was thought to be lost for almost a century.
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Gustav Klimt’s painting, known as the Portrait of Fraulein Lieser, is a masterpiece by the world-renowned artist and is considered one of his last works.
The story of the Gustav Klimt’s painting’s disappearance is shrouded in mystery. It was last seen in public in 1925, after which it vanished.
The artwork was previously only known to experts through a black-and-white photograph, and its whereabouts remained a mystery for almost 100 years.
Recently, however, the painting was discovered in the private collection of an Austrian family.
It had been hanging on the wall of their villa for years, unbeknownst to the rest of the world.
The painting once belonged to the Lieser family, who were wealthy Jewish industrialists in Vienna and had a keen interest in art.
The discovery of the painting has caused a sensation in the art world, with experts marvelling at its pristine condition and the sheer quality of Klimt’s brushwork.
The Viennese auction house Im Kinsky has estimated the painting’s value at more than €50m (£42m), making it one of the most valuable artworks to have been discovered in recent years.
This discovery is a testament to the enduring power of art and its ability to surprise and delight us, even after decades of being hidden from view. The Portrait of Fraulein Lieser is a true treasure, and its rediscovery is a cause for celebration for art lovers around the world.
“The rediscovery of this portrait, one of the most beautiful of Klimt’s last creative period, is a sensation,” it said.
“His work, particularly his portraits of successful women from the upper middle class at the turn of the century, enjoy the highest recognition worldwide.
“A painting of such rarity, artistic significance, and value has not been available on the art market in Central Europe for decades.”
