Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer - Photo: Getty Images
The auction at Sotheby's New York on November 18 (local time) set a new milestone in the international art market when Gustav Klimt's masterpiece, Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, completed between 1914 and 1916, reached 236.4 million USD, including fees and commissions.
The figure makes the work the most expensive modern painting ever sold at auction and the second most expensive in history, behind only Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi .
A rare but eventful portrait
Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer was created by Gustav Klimt in the last period of his life, when his style reached its peak of sophistication and psychological depth.
The painting depicts Elisabeth Lederer, daughter of Serena Lederer, one of the most prominent female patrons of the early 20th-century Viennese art world, and an important patron of Gustav Klimt.
The fact that a personal portrait belonging to the artist's rare "circle of patronage" has appeared on the market makes the work all the more special.
During World War II, the Lederer family was confiscated by the Nazis and forced to flee. Many of their art collections were scattered, including paintings by Gustav Klimt.
Fortunately, Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer was later recovered and returned to the family as part of post-war property recovery efforts. This history, intertwined with the story of Nazi confiscation and restoration of art, adds to the painting’s symbolic and emotional value.
According to The Guardian , the price of 236.4 million USD helps Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer surpass a series of previous records in the modern and 20th-century art segment.
Painter Gustav Klimt - Photo: Ravenna Turismo
Although it has not yet surpassed the $450 million price tag for Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, this deal is still considered an important boost, demonstrating the demand and spending power of the super-rich for works of transparent origin and special historical value - Photo: Britannica
Sotheby's said the auction took place in a tense but exciting atmosphere, with the participation of many private collectors and representatives of international art funds. The identity of the buyer has not yet been announced.
However, experts say this price reflects the trend of viewing art as a safe long-term investment asset, especially for classic names like Gustav Klimt.
Before being auctioned, the work belonged to the collection of billionaire and famous collector Leonard A. Lauder.
Lauder's decision to let Sotheby's auction the painting is considered a highlight in the collector world this year, as such museum-quality Gustav Klimt works rarely come to market.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/buc-tranh-nao-gia-chi-sau-tranh-cua-leonardo-da-vinci-tren-san-dau-gia-20251119130222894.htm
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