The first of two portraits klimt painted of blochbauer, it has been referred to as the final and most fully representative work of his golden phase. The portrait of adele blochbauer now hangs at the neue galerie in new york city. Maria altmann, who escaped nazioccupied vienna as a newlywed and returned to wage a triumphant fight to recover gustav klimts iconic gold portrait of her remarkable aunt, died feb. I was recently given a new book on the artist gustav klimt, the lady in gold by annemarie oconner. Adele blochbauer 18811925 was a wealthy member of viennese society and a patron and close friend of gustav klimt. Oconnor divides this book between art patron, adele blochbauer, the artist gustav klimt and his unforgettable masterpiece, portrait of adele blochbauer i. Filed under caregiving backstage, my bookshelf current era tagged as adele blochbauer, austria, belvedere palace, gregor collins, maria altmann, nazi, schoenberg, woman in gold june 6. Maria viktoria blochbauer was born to gustav blochbauer and therese bauer on february 18, 1916, in vienna, austria.
But, this was not a state treasure of the austrian government, proudly displayed in the belvedere palace in vienna. Blochbauers niece maria altmann eventually recovered the painting thanks to the efforts of a young lawyer, randy schoenberg and austrian journalist, hubertus czernin. It wasnt until 2006 that austria finally gave the paintings to adeles niece maria altmann after a seven year legal battle. It was the first of two portraits that klimt painted of adele. Her aunt adele blochbauer was the model for gustav klimpts famous painting. The nazis falsely accused ferdinand of evading taxes and froze his assets, while he was in switzerlan. The portrait was commissioned by the sitters husband, ferdinand blochbauer, a jewish banker and sugar producer. From 1998 to 2006, maria altmann, the niece of the paintings subject, adele, fought a battle with the austrian government over the return of five klimt paintings, including the 1907 portrait. Helen mirren as blochbauers niece in the new film woman in gold. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Gustav klimts second portrait of adele blochbauer from 1912 reflects his growing influence from the impressionists as well as the german expressionists. Upon her death, adele blochbauer wished the painting to be given to the austrian state gallery, but it was seized by advancing german forces in world war ii. Altmanns uncle, czech sugar magnate ferdinand blochbauer, owned a small collection of artwork by the austrian master gustav klimt, including two portraits of his wife, adele blochbauer. In 1945, ferdinand blochbauer designated the paintings to be the property of his nephew and nieces, including maria altmann.
Portrait of adele blochbauer ii is a 1912 painting by the austrian symbolist painter gustav klimt. Maria talks about her aunt adele blochbauer, who was painted by gustav kilmt in his portrait of adele blochbauer. Portrait of adele bloch bauer 2, 1912 by gustav klimt. The works were seized by the nazis when they annexed austria in 1938. After the nazi seizure of power, some surviving members of the blochbauer family, including adeles niece maria altmann, escaped to the u. Nazi soldiers confiscated the painting at the start of wwii and after the war, the austrian state gallery claimed the painting as its own. Karl charles david blochbauer and 3 other siblings. This book is a wonderfully written tale of suspense. One of adele blochbauers nieces, maria altmann, made a startling discovery after her sister died. She has been eternalized by the famous austrian artist gustav klimt 18621918 in two majestic portraits 1907 and 1912, and possibly also in an allegory. High quality adele bloch bauer gifts and merchandise. After nazi plunder, a quest to bring home the woman in gold. Adele blochbauer i, 1907 by gustav klimt reproduction. Altmann ensued, which resulted in the two adele blochbauer portraits and three other gustav klimt paintings being returned to maria altmann, the niece of ferdinand blochbauer, in january 2006.
My bookshelf current era victoria adams reading alcove. After a lengthy legal dispute with the austrian government, in 2006 maria altmann inset won rights to adele blochbauer i, a 1907 painting by austrian artist gustav klimt. Woman in gold trailer ufficiale italiano 2015 helen. The gustav klimt painting is called adele blochbauer i but the name was changed to woman in gold to hide its jewish subject. The trailer for woman in gold starring academy award winner helen mirren has debuted. Maria altmann was born maria victoria bloch on february 18, 1916 in vienna, austriahungary in the wealthy jewish family of gustav bloch and marie therese. Her father was the general director of the influential viennese bank association and the president of the orient railway company. Woman in gold movie vs true story of maria altmann, randy. The amazing life of maria altmann mason, fergus, lifecaps on.
Fight for klimt portrait a fight to reclaim history. Upon becoming acquainted with adele blochbauer, a wealthy society woman and hostess of a renowned viennese salon at the beginning of the twentieth century, one can easily understand why art and life seemed to blend together in her eyes. Her uncle ferdinand gave her adeles jewelled choker as a wedding gift. The long journey of klimts masterwork the lady in gold. It tells the tale of how adele blochbauers niece, maria altmann 19162011, played by helen mirren, succeeded in gaining ownership of her aunts portrait from the austrian government. The painting was stolen by the nazis in 1941 and displayed at the osterreichische galerie belvedere. Randol schoenberg california lawyers recovering klimt. Supreme court to force the austrian government to give back this painting by gustav klimt of her aunt. Helen mirren stars in film about gustav klimts adele. In his own time, kilmt 18621918 was a highly successful painter, draftsman, muralist, and graphic artist.
Adele blochbauer i by gustav klimt is one of the artists finest paintings and an important topic of study for many art history students the painting features an incredibly elaborate portrait of lady adele bloch bauer and it is this detail and boldness that helps set the painting out from the rest of gustav klimts career, with so many other. Maria had the courage to fight for her familys art works which had been. Altmann ensued, which resulted in five gustav klimt paintings being returned to maria altmann, the niece of ferdinand blochbauer, in january 2006. Eventually, it acquired the status of the austrian mona lisa. This identity theft would have been complete, if it werent for a few pieces of paper. Adele blochbauer was born in vienna on august 9, 1881, the youngest daughter of the seven children of the banker moritz bauer 18401905 and jeannette bauer nee honig 18441922. The film focuses on blochbauers niece maria altmann, played by helen mirren, and her quest to reclaim the famous klimt painting from the austrian government, but there is a lot more to her story.
Altmann, who was born maria viktoria blochbauer in vienna, came from a wealthy jewish family that was stripped of its businesses, home and other wealth after germany annexed austria in. Gustav klimts ornate, sensual, and decadent style made him not only the most prominent of the vienna secessionists but one of the best loved artists of all time. Maria married fritz friedrich altmann in month 1937, at age 21 at marriage place. In december 1937, gustavs daughter maria, married a young opera singer. Years later, altmann fought to get the painting back for her family and she went before the u. The museums collection of klimts, including adele blochbauer i, drew large crowds of austrians and tourists to the museum and signified not only the power of the state to. But they really couldnt show a painting of a jew, so they stripped it of adeles name, calling it woman in gold. Klimts portrait of adele blochbauer is the canvas for stolen beauty. Klimts distinctive landscape also reveal a similar refinement of design and unique patterns that are found in many of his portraits. Remembering maria altmann, holocaust hero who won back. Gustav klimt portrait of adele blochbauer iphone xs case art iphone x case klimt samsung s9 case klimt adele iphone 8 plus case iphone xr casegen 4.
In 1917, the family changed their name to blochbauer. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. In researching the woman in gold true story, we discovered that gustav klimts 1907 painting was originally titled portrait of adele blochbauer i, named for the woman who posed for it, maria altmann s aunt adele. What are the paintings that austria returned to maria. This was to be the first of the two portraits of adele blochbauer. Similarly, the subsequent exhibition of adele blochbauer i in the belvedere gallery both increased the prestige of the states art collection and reaffirmed the portraits centrality in austrian cultural history. What happened to the diamond choker adele blochbauer was. The nazis falsely accused ferdinand of evading taxes and froze his assets, while he was in switzerland. Portrait of adele blochbauer i also called the lady in gold or the woman in gold is a painting by gustav klimt, completed between 1903 and 1907. Maria altmann on adele blochbauer usc shoah foundation. Portrait of adele blochbauer i also called the lady in gold or the woman in gold is a 1907 painting by gustav klimt.