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Gustav Klimt

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born

July 14, 1862 in baumgarten *near vienna*, Austria

died

February 06, 1918

gender

male

About this author

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Gustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, the second of seven children — three boys and four girls. All three sons displayed artistic talent early on. His father, Ernst Klimt, formerly from Bohemia, was a gold engraver. Ernst married Anna Klimt (née Finster), whose unrealized ambition was to be a musical performer. Klimt lived in poverty for most of his childhood, as work was scarce and economic advancement was difficult for immigrants.

In 1876, Klimt was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied until 1883, and received training as an architectural painter. He revered the foremost history painter of the time, Hans Makart. Klimt readily accepted the principles of a conservati...more Gustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, the second of seven children — three boys and four girls. All three sons displayed artistic talent early on. His father, Ernst Klimt, formerly from Bohemia, was a gold engraver. Ernst married Anna Klimt (née Finster), whose unrealized ambition was to be a musical performer. Klimt lived in poverty for most of his childhood, as work was scarce and economic advancement was difficult for immigrants.

In 1876, Klimt was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied until 1883, and received training as an architectural painter. He revered the foremost history painter of the time, Hans Makart. Klimt readily accepted the principles of a conservative training; his early work may be classified as academic. In 1877 his brother Ernst, who, like his father, would become an engraver, also enrolled in the school. The two brothers and their friend Franz Matsch began working together; by 1880 they had received numerous commissions as a team they called the "Company of Artists", and helped their teacher in painting murals in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Klimt began his professional career painting interior murals and ceilings in large public buildings on the Ringstraße including a successful series of "Allegories and Emblems".

In 1888, Klimt received the Golden order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria for his contributions to murals painted in the Burgtheater in Vienna. He also became an honorary member of the University of Munich and the University of Vienna. In 1892 both Klimt's father and brother Ernst died, and he had to assume financial responsibility for his father's and brother's families. The tragedies affected his artistic vision as well, and soon he would veer toward a new personal style. In the early 1890s, Klimt met Emilie Flöge, who, notwithstanding the artist's relationships with other women, was to be his companion until the end of his life. Whether his relationship with Flöge was sexual or not is debated, but during that period Klimt fathered at least 14 children.

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Books by Gustav Klimt

Average rating: 4.22 · 125 ratings · 8 reviews · 41 distinct works

	Gustav Klimt by Gustav Klimt, Angelika Taschen (Created by), Taschen (Creator) 4.28 avg rating — 32 ratings — 7 editions	My rating:
	100 Drawings by Gustav Klimt, Klimt, Alfred Werner (Designed by) 4.36 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 1972	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt: Landscapes by Gustav Klimt, Christian Huemer (Contribution by) 3.93 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2002 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt: Erotic Sketches/Erotische Skizzen 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2005	My rating:
	Klimts Women 4.00 avg rating — 5 ratings	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt: Modernism in the Making by Gustav Klimt, Colin B. Bailey (Editor) 4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2001	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt: Women by Gustav Klimt, Angelika Baumer 3.33 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1988	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1999	My rating:
	Klimt & Die Mode 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	My rating:
	Gustav Klimt 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1986	My rating:

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Quotes by Gustav Klimt

“I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me -as an artist, the only notable thing- ought to look carefully at my pictures and try and see in them what I am and what I want to do.”
― Gustav Klimt

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Gustav Klimt

Author profile

combine editionsBooks by Gustav Klimt

Quotes by Gustav Klimt

combine editions
Books by Gustav Klimt