Gustav Klimt was an influential Austrian painter born in 1862 in Vienna. He was one of the founders of the Vienna Secession art movement which rebelled against the classical establishment. Klimt was a very talented student who was commissioned for large decorative works at a young age. Along with his brothers he opened a studio specializing in interior design and decoration, decorating many theaters. While his early work was naturalistic, he later adopted a radical new style influenced by styles like Japanese art. His colorful, symbolic paintings set trends for the Art Nouveau period and profoundly influenced Viennese art at the time.

1. Gustav Klimt 1862-1918 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 would be commissioned to paint several large decorative works by the age of twenty.

2. 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.

3. The Old Burgtheater 1888-89

4. Theater in Taormina 1886-88

5. Sappho 1888-90

6. Music 1895

7. Sonja Knips 1898

8. Pallas Athena 1898

9. Schubert at the Piano 1899 ( Destroyed by fire at Schloss Immerdorf in 1945 )

10. Judith and Holopherne 1901

11. Goldfish 1901-1902

12. Portrait of a Girl 1902

13. Portrait of Emilie Flöge 1902

14. Hope I 1903

15. Farmhouse with Birch Trees 1903

16. Country Garden with Sunflowers 1905-1906

17. Portrait of Margarethe Stoneborough-Wittgenstein 1905

18. The Three Ages of Woman 1905

19. Hope II 1907-1908

20. Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I 1907

21. Hygeia (Detail of Medicine) 1900-1907

22. The Kiss 1907-1908

23. Danae 1907-1908

24. Death and Life 1908-1916

25. Judith II (Salome) 1909

26. Adele Bloch-Bauer II 1912

27. The Virgin 1914

28. Fredericke Maria Beer 1916

29. Lady with Fan 1917-1918

30. Baby 1917 Baby 1917-1918

31. Adam and Eva (unfinished) 1917-1918

32. Friends 1917 (Destroyed by fire in 1945)

33. Portrait of Mäda Primavesi 1921

34. Klimt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1918. He continued painting until the very end and many of his final works remained unfinished. CM