Exploring the Enduring Influence: Gustav Klimt's Art and Classical Antiquity Exhibition

This exhibition explores the fascinating dialogue between Gustav Klimt’s work and classical art, tracing his understanding of antiquity from early Historicism to his own formal language after 1900. It features Klimt's oeuvre alongside classical vase paintings and casts of sculptures that inspired him.

The exhibition "Klimt and Antiquity" delves into the profound connection between Gustav Klimt's artistic output and the classical world. It illustrates a significant shift in Klimt's engagement with antiquity, moving from an early focus on classical details influenced by Historicism to a later period after 1900 where he translated the spirit of antiquity into his distinct formal language. This development is showcased by juxtaposing Klimt's works with examples of classical vase painting and casts of sculptures that served as inspiration. A particular highlight is Klimt's illustrations for a new edition of Lucian's "Dialogues of the Courtesans" (circa 120–185 A.D.), published in 1907. This collection of risqué drawings, paired with Josef Hoffmann's Wiener Werkstätte design, is presented as one of European Jugendstil's most beautiful books. The exhibition also features select Attic red-figure vase paintings, offering a glimpse into the world of Lucian's "Dialogues of the Courtesans." The interplay between these ancient vase paintings and Klimt's linear art reveals surprising correlations across millennia, offering new perspectives on the artist's appreciation of antiquity. This exhibition is a cooperation with the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and was curated by Dr. Tobias G. Natter.

A special "Combiticket Klimt Ticket 2" is available, which includes entrance to the Lower Belvedere (including this exhibition) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (including Klimt works and the collection of antiquities). This combi-ticket can be purchased at the Belvedere Ticket counter and the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien for €23.