Sotheby's auction house witnessed a record-breaking sale in New York on Tuesday, where a Gustav Klimt portrait was sold for $236.4 million (£179m), catapulting it to the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.
The Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, painted between 1914 and 1916, took center stage in a fierce bidding battle involving six participants over just 20 minutes. The buyer's identity remains under wraps, adding to the intrigue surrounding this masterpiece.
Lederer was an heiress and daughter of one of Klimt's patrons, making her a significant figure in his life and artistry. The painting depicts her wearing a white robe with a blue tapestry adorned with Asian motifs in the background. It is one of only three paintings Klimt ever created for Lederer.
The portrait has a complicated history, having been looted by the Nazis during World War II and later rescued by Lederer's brother in 1948. The artwork spent most of its life in private collections before being auctioned off to an unknown buyer on Tuesday evening.
While this Klimt painting holds the second spot for the highest sale price at auction, it pales in comparison to Salvator Mundi, a Leonardo da Vinci work that sold for $450 million in 2017. Another piece by Klimt, Lady with a Fan, took home $108.8 million in London in 2023.
Tuesday's sales also saw the unveiling of a new gold toilet sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan for $12.1 million, bought within an hour of the record-breaking painting sale.
The Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, painted between 1914 and 1916, took center stage in a fierce bidding battle involving six participants over just 20 minutes. The buyer's identity remains under wraps, adding to the intrigue surrounding this masterpiece.
Lederer was an heiress and daughter of one of Klimt's patrons, making her a significant figure in his life and artistry. The painting depicts her wearing a white robe with a blue tapestry adorned with Asian motifs in the background. It is one of only three paintings Klimt ever created for Lederer.
The portrait has a complicated history, having been looted by the Nazis during World War II and later rescued by Lederer's brother in 1948. The artwork spent most of its life in private collections before being auctioned off to an unknown buyer on Tuesday evening.
While this Klimt painting holds the second spot for the highest sale price at auction, it pales in comparison to Salvator Mundi, a Leonardo da Vinci work that sold for $450 million in 2017. Another piece by Klimt, Lady with a Fan, took home $108.8 million in London in 2023.
Tuesday's sales also saw the unveiling of a new gold toilet sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan for $12.1 million, bought within an hour of the record-breaking painting sale.
This Klimt portrait sold for $236.4 million? 
Like, what even is that?! The fact it's the second-most expensive artwork ever sold is crazy. I mean, think about all those people bidding on it in just 20 minutes - it must've been intense! 
But seriously, can you believe this painting was looted by Nazis during WWII and had to be rescued by Lederer's brother? That's some dark history right there... 
Either way, these record-breaking sales are giving me life! 
. It's amazing to think that Elisabeth Lederer was the star of this painting back in 1914 and now she's bringing in the big bucks 
. I guess you could say this sale just solidified Klimt's place as one of the greatest artists of all time 
. As for me, I'm just happy to be able to see some of these masterpieces online and in museums – it's a small consolation, but still cool! 
this is insane 
but I guess you can't put a price on art 
Elisabeth Lederer was literally royalty 
and it shows in this masterpiece 
Klimt's work is always so stunningly beautiful and intricate 
the Asian motifs are everything 
I'm obsessed with finding out who bought it though, it has to be someone super serious about art 
i mean i can understand why someone would want to buy something so rare and historic, but still... $236.4 million is just wild 
, like what even is going on?! 
.
. Maybe they'll be able to create more masterpieces like Klimt's or even better 
? That would be soooo sad 
.
.
](https://giphy.com/gifs/large-image-lol-7o5qV1wQJ2Yg0)
](https://i.imgur.com/6RtjzT4.jpg)
instead of hiding it in their vaults 
?
.
i mean, no wonder its one of only three paintings klimt made for elisabeth lederer - she was basically a patroness or something... 
but its beauty shines through despite all that. i mean, have u seen it? 
The fact that it went to auction for a whopping $236.4 million is just mind-boggling. And I have to say, the backstory behind the painting is fascinating - from being looted by the Nazis to being rescued by Lederer's brother 
. It's amazing how art can hold so much history and emotional weight. On the other hand, that gold toilet sculpture by Cattelan for $12.1 million does seem a bit...luxurious? 
Is that just a fancy way of saying they're hiding from their money troubles or something? It's just weird. And don't even get me started on the whole looted artwork thing - that's just heartbreaking 
. The bidding battle was SO intense 
. I'm loving the mystery surrounding the buyer's identity - is it some fancy rich person or a collector with deep pockets 
, and I can see why it's one of only three Klimt portraits he created for Lederer. And to think it was looted by the Nazis during WWII 
. Anyway, this sale is definitely a record-breaker 
, but let's be real, who needs all that money when you can have a masterpiece like this hanging in your palace 
? #KlimtForever #ArtLover #WeirdHistory