‚The Beethoven Frieze‘

Masterpiece series

Wertical Magazine is happy to introduce its Masterpiece series. Each week a new masterpiece would be chosen and approached in 10 points that made its history, story and speciality.

To start with, Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze which golden tones recall the time of the year.

1. Is celebrating this year its 114th anniversary
2. Was meant to be an ephemeral work only on show during the 14th Vienna Secessionist exhibition
3. Yet the same year, 1902, the Secession was to present a retrospective about the painter and left the frieze
4. Was purchased in 1903 by art collector Carl Reinighaud.
5. The frieze was thus cut in eight piece and stored for a decade
6. It was bought in 1915 by August Lederer, a Jewish industrialist and seized by the Nazis in 1938.
7. The frieze was purchased from the Republic of Austria in 1972 for the price of 750 000 $
8. Is, with a hint from the title, a celebration to Ludwig van Beethoven, especially to his ninth Symphony
9. The frieze depicts the human desire for happiness
10. It marks the beginning of Klimt’s ‘golden period‘