Art Robbers > #40

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

Hercules

Today, we are going to steal a famous artwork called 'Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I' by Gustav Klimt.

Wu Tang

Wow! What kind of artwork is that?

Hercules

It's a portrait painting completed between 1903 and 1907. It was commissioned by the sitter's husband, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a Jewish banker and sugar producer.

Wu Tang

Why is it called 'Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I'?

Hercules

Because Adele Bloch-Bauer is the name of the woman who was portrayed in the painting. This is actually the first of two depictions of her by Klimt.

Wu Tang

Oh, I see. But I don't understand what you mean by Klimt's 'golden phase'.

Hercules

'Golden phase' refers to a period in Klimt's career when he used gold leaf in his paintings. This portrait is considered the most fully representative work of that phase.

Wu Tang

I noticed that you mentioned the painting was stolen by the Nazis. What happened after that?

Hercules

After being stolen, it was displayed at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna. Adele Bloch-Bauer died in 1925, and in her will, she requested that the artworks by Klimt be left to the Galerie Belvedere after her husband's death.

Wu Tang

So it belonged to Ferdinand, but he had to flee Vienna during the Nazi era. What happened to the painting then?

Hercules

The painting was seized by the Nazis in 1941, along with the rest of Ferdinand's assets. It was claimed that Ferdinand evaded taxes, so the painting was given to the Galerie Belvedere. Ferdinand died in 1945, and in his will, he stated that his estate should go to his nephew and two nieces.

Wu Tang

That's a complicated story. How did the painting end up being returned to its rightful owners?

Hercules

In 1998, it was discovered that the Galerie Belvedere had several works stolen from Jewish owners during the war. One of Ferdinand's nieces, Maria Altmann, hired a lawyer and made a claim against the gallery for the return of five works by Klimt. After a seven-year legal battle, an arbitration committee agreed that the painting had been stolen and should be returned to Altmann. She sold it in 2006 for $135 million.

Wu Tang

That's a huge amount! Who bought it and where is it now?

Hercules

The painting was purchased by Ronald Lauder, a businessman and art collector, who placed it in the Neue Galerie, a public gallery in New York that he co-founded.

Bob

Hold it right there, Hercules! I've caught you red-handed.

Hercules

Oh no, Bob! I was just talking about how much I admire this painting.

Wu Tang

I can't wait any longer! I'm running away!

Bob

You won't get away this time, Hercules. I'll make sure of it.

Bob

And Wu Tang, you better not get involved in any more of Hercules' schemes.

Wu Tang

I won't, I promise!

Bob

I won't miss the next one, Hercules. Your days of stealing art are over.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

View this art on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_Adele_Bloch-Bauer_I

Art Robbers > #40

Art Robbers

#49

#48

#47

#46

#45

#44

#43

#42

#41

#40

#39

#38

#37

#36

#35

#34

#33

#32

#31

#30

#29

#28

#27

#26

#25

#24

#23

#22

#21

#20

#19

#18

#17

#16

#15

#14

#13

#12

#11

#10

#9

#8

#7

#6

#5

#4

#3

#2

#1