A member of the artistic Vienna Secessionist movement, he was influenced heavily by theArt Nouveautrends.
The works of his later life before his death of Spanish Flu in 1918 are most famous.
Nazi violence against Jewish people across Europe was accompanied by massive looting sprees.
Other precious works were lost in thebombingand fighting of the war.
That is the fate art historians long believed befell the portrait of Fraulein Lieser.
So far, no evidence has been discovered that the painting was looted.
The present owners acquired it in the 1960s.
They, as well as relatives of the Lieser family, will profit from the sale.
These incredible prices suggest the immense continuing impact and popularity of Klimt’s work.
