Klimt University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings

Klimt University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings
The bottom portion of the Medicine picture, showing Hygieia
ArtistGustav Klimt
Year1900–1907

The Klimt University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings, also known as the Faculty Paintings, were a series of paintings made by Gustav Klimt for the ceiling of the University of Vienna's Great Hall between the years of 1900–1907. In 1894, Klimt was commissioned to paint the ceiling. Upon presenting his paintings, Philosophy, Medicine and Jurisprudence, Klimt came under attack for 'pornography' and 'perverted excess' in the paintings. None of the paintings would go on display in the university.

In May 1945, it is believed,[1] that all three paintings were destroyed when retreating SS forces set fire to the building they were housed in.[2] However, this is unverified.[3]

  1. ^ Bitsori, M.; Galanakis, E. (2002). "Doctors versus artists: Gustav Klimt's Medicine". BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.). 325 (7378): 1506–1508. doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7378.1506. PMC 139056. PMID 12493684.
  2. ^ Jones, Jonathan (May 6, 2008). "Klimt's Dazzling demons". The Guardian. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
  3. ^ Storkovich, Tina Marie (2015-12-18), Verbrannte Klimtbilder. Das Puzzle von Immendorf [Storkovich, Tina Marie. The Burned Klimt Pictures / The Puzzle of Immendorf Castle], retrieved 2019-12-01