VIENNA (AP) — A portrait of a young woman by Gustav Klimt that was long believed to be lost was sold at an auction in Vienna on Wednesday for 30 million euros ($32 million).
The Austrian modernist artist started work on the “Portrait of Fräulein Lieser” in 1917, the year before he died, and it is one of his last works. Bidding started at 28 million euros, and the sale price was at the lower end of an expected range of 30-50 million euros. The buyer wasn’t identified.
The Im Kinsky auction house said that “a painting of such rarity, artistic significance, and value has not been available on the art market in Central Europe for decades.”
The intensely colored painting was auctioned on behalf of the current owners, Austrian private citizens whose names weren’t released, and the legal heirs of Adolf and Henriette Lieser, one of whom is believed to have commissioned the painting. It’s not entirely clear which member of the Lieser family was the model.
Edmunds: What you need to know about wrapping your car
China records nearly 5 bln domestic trips in 2023
China Focus: China embraces wider winter sports, leisure participation
Decade after divorce, woman finds new life on two wheels
The body types that raise the risk of colon cancer
U.S. travelers benefiting from China's visa rules
Rongbao souvenirs fly off shelves in Chengdu
Zhang primed for shot at history
Tennessee lawmakers join movement allowing some teachers to take guns into schools
State Council approves new nuclear plants
Grant Shapps swerves questions on whether Britain could follow the US by banning Chinese
Used goods proving to be trendy commodities