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Delphi Masters of Art #7
Complete Works of Gustav Klimt
The Austrian symbolist painter Gustav Klimt was a founding member of the Vienna Secession, whose celebrated paintings and murals are widely regarded as modern masterpieces of twentieth century art. The Masters of Art Series presents the world’s first digital e-Art books, allowing digital readers to explore the works of the world’s greatest artists in comprehensive detail. This volume presents Klimt’s complete paintings in beautiful detail, with concise introductions and hundreds of high quality images. (Version 1)
* The complete paintings of Gustav Klimt — over 250 images, fully indexed and arranged in chronological and alphabetical order
* Includes reproductions of rare lost works
* Features a special ‘Highlights’ section, with concise introductions to the masterpieces, giving valuable contextual information
* Enlarged ‘Detail’ images, allowing you to explore Klimt’s celebrated works in detail, as featured in traditional art books
* Hundreds of images in stunning colour – highly recommended for viewing on tablets and smart phones or as a valuable reference tool on more conventional eReaders
* Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the complete paintings
* Easily locate the paintings you want to view
* Scholarly ordering of plates into chronological order and literary genres
Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting e-Art books
CONTENTS:
The Highlights
THE THEATRE IN TAORMINA
THE OLD BURGTHEATER IN VIENNA
PORTRAIT OF PIANIST JOSEPH PEMBAUER
LOVE
MUSIC I
PALLAS ATHENA
NUDA VERITAS
JUDITH AND THE HEAD OF HOLOFERNES
GOLDFISH
BEETHOVEN FRIEZE
THE THREE AGES OF WOMAN
PORTRAIT OF FRITZA RIEDLER
WATER SNAKES I
PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCH-BAUER I
THE KISS
DANAË
TREE OF LIFE
ADAM AND EVE
The Paintings
THE COMPLETE PAINTINGS
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PAINTINGS
Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles
* The complete paintings of Gustav Klimt — over 250 images, fully indexed and arranged in chronological and alphabetical order
* Includes reproductions of rare lost works
* Features a special ‘Highlights’ section, with concise introductions to the masterpieces, giving valuable contextual information
* Enlarged ‘Detail’ images, allowing you to explore Klimt’s celebrated works in detail, as featured in traditional art books
* Hundreds of images in stunning colour – highly recommended for viewing on tablets and smart phones or as a valuable reference tool on more conventional eReaders
* Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the complete paintings
* Easily locate the paintings you want to view
* Scholarly ordering of plates into chronological order and literary genres
Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting e-Art books
CONTENTS:
The Highlights
THE THEATRE IN TAORMINA
THE OLD BURGTHEATER IN VIENNA
PORTRAIT OF PIANIST JOSEPH PEMBAUER
LOVE
MUSIC I
PALLAS ATHENA
NUDA VERITAS
JUDITH AND THE HEAD OF HOLOFERNES
GOLDFISH
BEETHOVEN FRIEZE
THE THREE AGES OF WOMAN
PORTRAIT OF FRITZA RIEDLER
WATER SNAKES I
PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCH-BAUER I
THE KISS
DANAË
TREE OF LIFE
ADAM AND EVE
The Paintings
THE COMPLETE PAINTINGS
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF PAINTINGS
Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting titles
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2014
137 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Gustav Klimt
185 books36 followersGustav Klimt was born in Baumgarten, near Vienna, the second of seven children — three boys and four girls. All three sons displayed artistic talent early on. His father, Ernst Klimt, formerly from Bohemia, was a gold engraver. Ernst married Anna Klimt (née Finster), whose unrealized ambition was to be a musical performer. Klimt lived in poverty for most of his childhood, as work was scarce and economic advancement was difficult for immigrants.
In 1876, Klimt was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied until 1883, and received training as an architectural painter. He revered the foremost history painter of the time, Hans Makart. Klimt readily accepted the principles of a conservative training; his early work may be classified as academic. In 1877 his brother Ernst, who, like his father, would become an engraver, also enrolled in the school. The two brothers and their friend Franz Matsch began working together; by 1880 they had received numerous commissions as a team they called the "Company of Artists", and helped their teacher in painting murals in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Klimt began his professional career painting interior murals and ceilings in large public buildings on the Ringstraße including a successful series of "Allegories and Emblems".
In 1888, Klimt received the Golden order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria for his contributions to murals painted in the Burgtheater in Vienna. He also became an honorary member of the University of Munich and the University of Vienna. In 1892 both Klimt's father and brother Ernst died, and he had to assume financial responsibility for his father's and brother's families. The tragedies affected his artistic vision as well, and soon he would veer toward a new personal style. In the early 1890s, Klimt met Emilie Flöge, who, notwithstanding the artist's relationships with other women, was to be his companion until the end of his life. Whether his relationship with Flöge was sexual or not is debated, but during that period Klimt fathered at least 14 children.
--Wikipedia
In 1876, Klimt was awarded a scholarship to the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts (Kunstgewerbeschule), where he studied until 1883, and received training as an architectural painter. He revered the foremost history painter of the time, Hans Makart. Klimt readily accepted the principles of a conservative training; his early work may be classified as academic. In 1877 his brother Ernst, who, like his father, would become an engraver, also enrolled in the school. The two brothers and their friend Franz Matsch began working together; by 1880 they had received numerous commissions as a team they called the "Company of Artists", and helped their teacher in painting murals in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Klimt began his professional career painting interior murals and ceilings in large public buildings on the Ringstraße including a successful series of "Allegories and Emblems".
In 1888, Klimt received the Golden order of Merit from Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria for his contributions to murals painted in the Burgtheater in Vienna. He also became an honorary member of the University of Munich and the University of Vienna. In 1892 both Klimt's father and brother Ernst died, and he had to assume financial responsibility for his father's and brother's families. The tragedies affected his artistic vision as well, and soon he would veer toward a new personal style. In the early 1890s, Klimt met Emilie Flöge, who, notwithstanding the artist's relationships with other women, was to be his companion until the end of his life. Whether his relationship with Flöge was sexual or not is debated, but during that period Klimt fathered at least 14 children.
--Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 6, 2019
I thought Gustav Klimt was going to be among my favorites artists because it started off with a bang in his wonderful "The Old Burgtheater" which in my opinion his best work.
"Painted between 1886 and 1888 for the Burgtheater, Vienna, the Austrian National Theatre and one of the most important German language theatres in the world, this image demonstrates how Klimt, working together with his brother Ernst and their friend Franz Matsch, had successfully established a reputation for producing large scale decorative works for theatres in cities across Austria. In 1886 Klimt had won the prestigious commission to decorate the ceilings in the two monumental staircases that led to the boxes in the newly constructed Burgtheater on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, as part of an ambitious scheme of urban renewal in the late nineteenth century. "
A little history of his family.
"The latter years of the nineteenth century had been a trying time for the artist, when his father passed away and then, very unexpectedly, his brother and fellow artist Ernst died in December 1892. At this time Klimt was made the guardian of Helene, Ernst’s wife. Helene’s sister Emilie, who was eighteen years old, became a particularly helpful friend to the artist, when he became a frequent guest at the home of her parents, spending the summers with the Flöge family at Lake Attersee. Emilie Flöge helped Klimt through this difficult time and was later to become his life-long companion and the subject of many of his canvases and could well be the inspiration for Music I. "
In many of his painting the gold colors are magnificent.
"As Klimt’s father had been a goldsmith, the artist had been trained early in life in the art of goldsmithing and he was keen to incorporate this technique into his new decorative style. "
Many of his paintings have naked females which to me was a little too much but I do not condemn but give you my thoughts.
"In 1894 Klimt had been commissioned to decorate the ceiling of the Great Hall of the University of Vienna. Not completed until the turn of the century, his three paintings, Philosophy, Medicine, and Jurisprudence, now all lost to fire during the Second World War, were criticised for their radical themes and material, being labelled as ‘pornographic’ by many outraged critics. Klimt’s art had transformed traditional allegory and symbolism into a new language that was more overtly sexual and challenging, even disturbing to the sensibilities of many of his patrons. The public outcry came from many quarters — political, aesthetic and religious. As a result, Klimt withdrew the three paintings and they were never displayed on the ceiling of the Great Hall. It would be the last public commission accepted by the artist. "
I loved "Love"!💖
"Above the two lovers in the centre of the canvas, there are several eerie female heads, mysteriously cloaked in mist, each representing different stages of womanhood. On the right one of the heads represents the beauty of youth, whilst on the left the most arresting head of all belongs to an old hag, whose menacing stare gives a bleak warning about the fleeting pleasures of love. Art historians have identified this painting as being one of the first works to chart Klimt’s fascination of ‘woman’ and of the theme being a focal point in his art, which would dominate the vast majority of his canvases in later years."
"Beethoven Frieze"
"The frieze illustrates the human desire for happiness in a suffering and tempestuous world in which human beings contend with external evil forces and internal weaknesses, as represented in the symphonic masterpieces of Beethoven. The viewer follows this journey of discovery in a stunning visual and linear fashion. The frieze begins with a floating female Genii searching the Earth, before introducing the sinister appearing storm-wind giant, Typhoeus, his three Gorgon daughters and other images representing sickness, madness, death, lust and wantonness, displayed above and to the right. Then appears a knight in shining armour, offering hope due to his own ambition and sympathy for the suffering humans. The journey concludes in the discovery of joy (as celebrated in Beethoven’s choral symphony number nine) by means of the arts, with contentment portrayed in the close embrace of a kiss. Thus, the frieze explores psychological human yearning, ultimately satisfied through individual and communal searching and the beauty of the arts, coupled with love and companionship. "
I also loved "The Kiss"
"The Kiss is widely regarded as one of the most famous images of twentieth century art. Frequently reproduced, it portrays the embodiment of love in a single, beautiful image of an embrace shared between two lovers. The rapt face of the woman, the protective adoration of her lover and their oblivion to everything else convey the sense of a total love, which has resonated with audiences across the world since its first unveiling in 1909, when it was enthusiastically received and immediately found a buyer."
Another favorite is "Mother and Child"
In this collection there is not a biography which a short one would have been nice because he seemed an interesting character, though there are several photos of him. Many of his paintings have been destroyed and many during WW 2.
I enjoyed looking at his works which have a geometrical element. I give you my review as a novice so I can not give you more in ways of his techniques without sounding ridiculous.💜
"Painted between 1886 and 1888 for the Burgtheater, Vienna, the Austrian National Theatre and one of the most important German language theatres in the world, this image demonstrates how Klimt, working together with his brother Ernst and their friend Franz Matsch, had successfully established a reputation for producing large scale decorative works for theatres in cities across Austria. In 1886 Klimt had won the prestigious commission to decorate the ceilings in the two monumental staircases that led to the boxes in the newly constructed Burgtheater on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, as part of an ambitious scheme of urban renewal in the late nineteenth century. "
A little history of his family.
"The latter years of the nineteenth century had been a trying time for the artist, when his father passed away and then, very unexpectedly, his brother and fellow artist Ernst died in December 1892. At this time Klimt was made the guardian of Helene, Ernst’s wife. Helene’s sister Emilie, who was eighteen years old, became a particularly helpful friend to the artist, when he became a frequent guest at the home of her parents, spending the summers with the Flöge family at Lake Attersee. Emilie Flöge helped Klimt through this difficult time and was later to become his life-long companion and the subject of many of his canvases and could well be the inspiration for Music I. "
In many of his painting the gold colors are magnificent.
"As Klimt’s father had been a goldsmith, the artist had been trained early in life in the art of goldsmithing and he was keen to incorporate this technique into his new decorative style. "
Many of his paintings have naked females which to me was a little too much but I do not condemn but give you my thoughts.
"In 1894 Klimt had been commissioned to decorate the ceiling of the Great Hall of the University of Vienna. Not completed until the turn of the century, his three paintings, Philosophy, Medicine, and Jurisprudence, now all lost to fire during the Second World War, were criticised for their radical themes and material, being labelled as ‘pornographic’ by many outraged critics. Klimt’s art had transformed traditional allegory and symbolism into a new language that was more overtly sexual and challenging, even disturbing to the sensibilities of many of his patrons. The public outcry came from many quarters — political, aesthetic and religious. As a result, Klimt withdrew the three paintings and they were never displayed on the ceiling of the Great Hall. It would be the last public commission accepted by the artist. "
I loved "Love"!💖
"Above the two lovers in the centre of the canvas, there are several eerie female heads, mysteriously cloaked in mist, each representing different stages of womanhood. On the right one of the heads represents the beauty of youth, whilst on the left the most arresting head of all belongs to an old hag, whose menacing stare gives a bleak warning about the fleeting pleasures of love. Art historians have identified this painting as being one of the first works to chart Klimt’s fascination of ‘woman’ and of the theme being a focal point in his art, which would dominate the vast majority of his canvases in later years."
"Beethoven Frieze"
"The frieze illustrates the human desire for happiness in a suffering and tempestuous world in which human beings contend with external evil forces and internal weaknesses, as represented in the symphonic masterpieces of Beethoven. The viewer follows this journey of discovery in a stunning visual and linear fashion. The frieze begins with a floating female Genii searching the Earth, before introducing the sinister appearing storm-wind giant, Typhoeus, his three Gorgon daughters and other images representing sickness, madness, death, lust and wantonness, displayed above and to the right. Then appears a knight in shining armour, offering hope due to his own ambition and sympathy for the suffering humans. The journey concludes in the discovery of joy (as celebrated in Beethoven’s choral symphony number nine) by means of the arts, with contentment portrayed in the close embrace of a kiss. Thus, the frieze explores psychological human yearning, ultimately satisfied through individual and communal searching and the beauty of the arts, coupled with love and companionship. "
I also loved "The Kiss"
"The Kiss is widely regarded as one of the most famous images of twentieth century art. Frequently reproduced, it portrays the embodiment of love in a single, beautiful image of an embrace shared between two lovers. The rapt face of the woman, the protective adoration of her lover and their oblivion to everything else convey the sense of a total love, which has resonated with audiences across the world since its first unveiling in 1909, when it was enthusiastically received and immediately found a buyer."
Another favorite is "Mother and Child"
In this collection there is not a biography which a short one would have been nice because he seemed an interesting character, though there are several photos of him. Many of his paintings have been destroyed and many during WW 2.
I enjoyed looking at his works which have a geometrical element. I give you my review as a novice so I can not give you more in ways of his techniques without sounding ridiculous.💜
February 19, 2025
I've found out about Klimt and his protégé - Egon Schiele through my girlfriend, and God if that would have been enough to fall in love with a person for showing you a world that make you question your doubts and fears.
I can't say a bad word about Delphi Classics work on Klimt's art, only that is more of an introduction that an deep and thoroughly analysis. Otherwise I've found a lot of information that didn't know about some of his works, for example that he made a portret of Ludwig Wittgenstein's sister, or about the "dead baby" portret. And the best part, as you can infer from the title - it was the complete body of work in chronological order with some details under each painting or fresco.
I can't say a bad word about Delphi Classics work on Klimt's art, only that is more of an introduction that an deep and thoroughly analysis. Otherwise I've found a lot of information that didn't know about some of his works, for example that he made a portret of Ludwig Wittgenstein's sister, or about the "dead baby" portret. And the best part, as you can infer from the title - it was the complete body of work in chronological order with some details under each painting or fresco.
December 30, 2019
A nice visual summary of the wonderful works of Klimt, and I learned some new and interesting details about him. Very good book.
April 30, 2020
The paintings of Gustav Klimt with some biography and backstory to his most famous works.
Pretty freaking cool.
Pretty freaking cool.
December 19, 2023
Gustav Klimt's work is undeniably a masterpiece. His style remains distinctive and nearly impossible to replicate even today.
I had the privilege of seeing many of his artworks with my own eyes during my last visit to Vienna. Klimt's fame is truly deserved. What sets him apart as one of the greatest painters is not just his unique style and revolutionary approach, but also his remarkable talent evident from a young age, even when he adhered to more classical styles.
Another noteworthy aspect of Klimt is the diversity and depth he brings to his subjects, whether he’s exploring themes of love, death, or lust. He consistently views these themes from unique perspectives, leaving viewers astounded by his insights."
I had the privilege of seeing many of his artworks with my own eyes during my last visit to Vienna. Klimt's fame is truly deserved. What sets him apart as one of the greatest painters is not just his unique style and revolutionary approach, but also his remarkable talent evident from a young age, even when he adhered to more classical styles.
Another noteworthy aspect of Klimt is the diversity and depth he brings to his subjects, whether he’s exploring themes of love, death, or lust. He consistently views these themes from unique perspectives, leaving viewers astounded by his insights."
September 24, 2020
saat 3 ve ben nerede olduğu bilinmeyenler, özel koleksiyondakiler ve naziler tarafından yakılarak yok edilenler için, 1918 yılında vakitsizce ölen Jugendstilciler için, en çok da viyana ve viyana’daki ben için ağlıyorum
December 2, 2020
I like his abstract works better, which are underrepresented. He focuses on women, dressed if named and undressed otherwise. I like his style, but he seems over-focused on female anatomy. We men can be that way, especially before we get to know a woman personally.
May 11, 2021
This is a book i’ll be revisiting for inspiration, i’ve always been drawn to Klimts work, discovered many paintings i hadn’t seen of him and i’ve always been intrigued by his creative process, definitely a master of 20th century art
March 12, 2023
Not the biggest fan of nude women but I like his artistry and techniques. Beautiful paintings of nature — somehow managed to communicate the overall atmosphere of the place to viewers. Then again I’m not an expert I just read this for fun.
My favourite: tree of life
My favourite: tree of life
May 13, 2025
Review of Klimt paintings
Was interested in seeing his repertoire. Good reproductions, but you need to zoom in. I will be looking at other art books by Delphi.
Was interested in seeing his repertoire. Good reproductions, but you need to zoom in. I will be looking at other art books by Delphi.
May 4, 2023
Klimt cannot be contained in a book, especially not in an e-book, but still his works are worth seeing. Not only the famous ones, the not famous ones too. Some people believe he might have been stereo-blind (meaning he didn't have depth perception due to vision problems), and that the stunning flatness of color and space is a result of that. I learned that from a different book, not this one.
However, if you look at his early (and far less famous) works you will see that he did indeed know how to depict depth and three dimensions through shading and color. (See some of his works here). So my personal conclusion is that his trademark "flatness" was an intentional choice. Maybe he was stereoblind, who knows, but playing dimensionality was clearly intention because his early works show that he didn't lack skill at creating dimension.
That's why it's good see the works of an artist over time, from the beginning to the end of their artistic career. You get insights like this. Even though his early works are generic and forgettable, they have given me additional insight into his style, which I think, was very intentional. I love the flattened dimensionality. I feel that it beckons me to walk through a portal into another world and never come back. His early "realistic" works could never do this to me.
However, if you look at his early (and far less famous) works you will see that he did indeed know how to depict depth and three dimensions through shading and color. (See some of his works here). So my personal conclusion is that his trademark "flatness" was an intentional choice. Maybe he was stereoblind, who knows, but playing dimensionality was clearly intention because his early works show that he didn't lack skill at creating dimension.
That's why it's good see the works of an artist over time, from the beginning to the end of their artistic career. You get insights like this. Even though his early works are generic and forgettable, they have given me additional insight into his style, which I think, was very intentional. I love the flattened dimensionality. I feel that it beckons me to walk through a portal into another world and never come back. His early "realistic" works could never do this to me.
June 9, 2016
Intriguing Beauty
Gustav Klimt's paintings are stunningly glorious. Often complex in their textural detail, by way of their intrinsic patterns, they are painted in such glowing colours to the extent that they have a hypnotic effect that draws you into his work. Yet, there are also portraits of such exquisite detail as to possess photographic intimacy, where he captures the beauty of his men, women and children with their fine features.
If you love beauty for beauties sake, you will adore this tribute to a very, very sensitive artist.
Gustav Klimt's paintings are stunningly glorious. Often complex in their textural detail, by way of their intrinsic patterns, they are painted in such glowing colours to the extent that they have a hypnotic effect that draws you into his work. Yet, there are also portraits of such exquisite detail as to possess photographic intimacy, where he captures the beauty of his men, women and children with their fine features.
If you love beauty for beauties sake, you will adore this tribute to a very, very sensitive artist.
August 5, 2016
A visual pleasure
There is commentary concerning some of Gustav Klimt's most famous paintings, followed by a pictorial catalogue of his complete works. The images are dense; so minute examination is possible.
There is commentary concerning some of Gustav Klimt's most famous paintings, followed by a pictorial catalogue of his complete works. The images are dense; so minute examination is possible.
April 15, 2016
Interesting.
July 10, 2016
Great collection of Klimt's work!
July 14, 2019
This ebook provides a review of Gustav Klimt's works of art. A good introduction to his work.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews