The box of Gustav Klimt ‘The Portrait of Miss Lieser’ which was believed lost for more than a hundred years has been auctioned this Wednesday, April 24 in the Austrian capital for a value of 30 million euros, below the figures initially considered by the imKinsky house.
Some previous estimates spoke of the figure of 70 million euros could be reached for the painting, according to Europa Press from German media. while the start of the auction started at 28 million euros.
In total, three offers have been received and one of those present in the room has won the work. The Klimt painting, which was believed to be lost, was presented to visitors and interested parties at the auction house as part of a private visit in mid-April.
‘The Portrait of Miss Lieser’ It was secretly kept on private Austrian property for decades. The current owners inherited it from relatives about two years ago. “The painting was never hidden, it was simply not exhibited“, they have explained from the auction house.
“Perhaps the previous owner did not know the author of the painting, since it is not signed,” he added. The image, from Klimt’s last creative period, shows a young woman in front of a red background.
The Lieser family, who commissioned the portrait, belonged to the wealthy Viennese upper middle class. The industrial family was later persecuted during the Nazi era due to their Jewish ancestry. According to the Vienna auction house, after an intensive investigation there is no evidence that the painting was confiscated at the time.
“On the contrary, no evidence has been found that the painting was not stolen between 1938 and 1945.“they explained in a video about the auction.