The House that Estee built has purchased a most famous Gustav Klimt painting for $135 million, quite a sum. It will be exhibited at the Neue Galley in NYC and...very special for our firm...our client is part of the family who sold the painting. Very exciting, he's flying in for the dedication.

http://www.slate.com/id/2144092?GT1=8295

Close-up pic of the painting:

http://www.slate.com/id/2144113/

It looks like Besotted's avatar.

I believe 'tis...Miss Terry must be a GK fan, too. One of the most beautiful days I ever spent was in Vienna at the Klimt Museum and grounds...sheer heaven.

I just saw it and other confiscated Klimt's at LACMA. Stunning, even the landscapes.

It's interesting why people chose their avatar. Besotted has good taste. It is a lovely picture. Very serene.

All this started, with one, little recipe . . .

Wow, I've loved that painting for such a long time!! Thanks for posting this thread.

I've loved ADELE BLOCH-BAUER ever since I discovered this painting in 1980... Love, love Klimt.

It was odd, because, the year I discovered this painting, I was friendly with a girl who looked astonishingly like Adele herself...

Congratulations, Suz and FR&O !

Yes folks, I am a Klimt devotee - I adore his work. My avatar is a closeup of my all time Klimt favorite, "The Kiss":

http://www.expo-klimt.com/1_3.cfm?id=872872960

The painting in question features the same technique, with a different model. I love them both, the Kiss especially, because they remind me of Byzantine icons - all that golden brilliance.

Thanks Miss Suz for posting, this is marvelous news, congrats!

Even if one is rich, that is ridiculous when that money could have found a better use for humanity. But hey, its not my money.

I don't know the Klimt story--- whether he was born into affluence or achieved it along the way-- but one wonders: What do you suppose he would've done with $135,000,000.00 in 1910 or so?

Here you go Dave, biographical info on Klimt:

http://www.laks.com/english/biography.html

I love that painting. I think art is a worthwhile investment, and obviously the Lauders have the money.