Gustav Klimt Reproduction Souvenir collection, 1990-2010

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Summary

Abstract:
Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, also called The Lady in Gold or The Woman in Gold, is a painting by Gustav Klimt, completed between 1903 and 1907. The portrait was commissioned by Adele's husband, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a Jewish banker and sugar producer. The painting was stolen by the Nazis in 1941 and displayed at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere. The material provided in this collection is souvenirs of the Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer painting by Gustav Klimt, including collectors' plate, handheld mirrors, pillbox, and bookmark.
Extent:
2.13 Linear feet
Language:
English .

Background

Scope and content:

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer took three years to complete, was commissioned by the wealthy industrialist Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer. Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer favored the arts, especially Klimt, and commissioned him to complete a portrait of his wife Adele in 1912. Adele Bloch-Bauer was the only person to be painted twice by Klimt. This painting is perhaps most famous not for its artistic quality but because of its scandalous history since its inception. Upon her death, Adele Bloch-Bauer wished the painting to be given to the Austrian State Gallery, but it was seized by advancing German forces in World War II. In 1945, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer designated the paintings to be the property of his nephew and nieces, including Maria Altmann. Nonetheless, the Austrian government retained ownership of the painting and was not returned to the Altmann family until 2006 after a long court battle. The painting was then sold at auction for 135 million dollars. It is now displayed at the Neue Art Gallery in New York.

The material in this collection is souvenirs that were purchased at the Neue Art Gallery, including a collector's plate, bookmark, pillbox, and a handheld mirror.

Physical location:
[Item title/description; Box number/Folder number] Gustav Klimt Reproduction Souvenir collection (2021.002.h.r), Oskar Schindler Archive, Chapman University, CA.
Physical description:
Good
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Location of this collection:
One University Drive
Orange, CA 92866, US
Contact:
(714) 532-6005
schindlerarchive@chapman.edu
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