The Restitution of a Gustav Klimt Masterpiece

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The Restitution of a Gustav Klimt Masterpiece A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Federal support guarantees the Museum’s permanent place on the National Mall, and its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. Cover: Litzlberg am Attersee, Gustav Klimt, ca. 1914–15. Oil on canvas. From Robbery to Rescue: The Restitution of a Gustav Klimt Masterpiece Northeast Regional Office 60 E. 42nd Street, Suite 2540 New York, NY 10165-0018 ushmm.org Judie and Howard Ganek and Betsy and Doug Korn cordially invite you to a special presentation on behalf of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum From Robbery to Rescue: The Restitution of a Gustav Klimt Masterpiece Join us as Lucian Simmons, Senior Vice President of Sotheby’s and head of its worldwide restitution team, reveals the Featured Speaker Lucian Simmons extraordinary story behind a Gustav Klimt masterpiece Senior Vice President seized by the Nazis and only recently returned to its Provenance and Restitution rightful owner. Sotheby’s Under Nazi occupation, the precious possessions of Jewish families became commodities of the Third Reich. Among these stolen treasures were masterpieces of modern art like Wednesday, October 26 Litzlberg am Attersee, a Klimt landscape now valued at more 6–8 p.m. than $25 million. Acquired by Amalie Redlich from her brother and his wife, the painting was confiscated by the Sotheby’s Gestapo from Amalie’s home near Vienna, Austria, and sold 1334 York Avenue, between 71st and 72nd Streets after she was deported in 1941 to the Lodz ghetto, where New York City she disappeared forever. Cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Using archival evidence to corroborate Amalie’s grandson’s childhood memories of the painting, experts conclusively RSVP by October 17 with the enclosed card, or contact established its provenance and it was at last returned to Andi Barchas in the Museum’s Northeast Regional Office Amalie’s grandson, Georges Jorisch, this year. at 212.983.0825 or [email protected]. .
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    Gustav Klimt Slide Script Pre-slides: Focus slide; “And now, it’s time for Art Lit” Slide 1: Words We Will Use Today Mosaics: Mosaics use many tiny pieces of colored glass, shiny stones, gold, and silver to make intricate images and patterns. Art Nouveau: this means New Art - a style of decorative art, architecture, and design popular in Western Europe and the US from about 1890 to 1910. It’s recognized by flowing lines and curves. Patrons: Patrons are men and women who support the arts by purchasing art, commissioning art, or by sponsoring or providing a salary to an artist so they can continue making art. Slide 2 – Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt was a master of eye popping pattern and metallic color. Art Nouveau (noo-vo) artists like Klimt used bright colors and swirling, flowing lines and believed art could symbolize something beyond what appeared on the canvas. When asked why he never painted a self-portrait, Klimt said, “There is nothing special about me. Whoever wants to know something about me... ought to look carefully at my pictures.” We may not have a self-portrait but we do have photos of him – including this one with his studio cat! Let’s see what we can learn about Klimt today. Slide 3 – Public Art Klimt was born in Vienna, Austria where he lived his whole life. Klimt’s father was a gold engraver and he taught his son how to work with gold. Klimt won a full scholarship to art school at the age of 14 and when he finished, he and his brothers started a business painting murals on walls and ceilings for mansions, public theatres and universities.
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