A rare Gustav Klimt portrait of an African prince is on offer at the TEFAF Maastricht. Image: W&K—Wienerroither & Kohlbacher.

Gustav Klimt portrait of an African prince, recently rediscovered after decades, is now on display at ETFAF Maastricht with a $16.4 million price tag.

BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON

Gustav Klimt was one of the most iconic and famous artists of the early 20th century. His groundbreaking contributions to modern art remain indelible. Among his many masterpieces is a recently rediscovered portrait. The painting, which depicts an African prince, was missing for decades after World War II. This extraordinary piece is now on display at TEFAF Maastricht, with an estimated value of €15 million (or $16.4 million). It has captured the attention of art collectors, historians, and art enthusiasts worldwide since its recent reappearance. The dramatic journey of this remarkable painting from Klimt’s studio to auction houses and its loss is fascinating. Even more intriguing are the stories of its eventual rediscovery and historical significance.

The Discovery of the Lost Gustav Klimt Portrait

The portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona, a leader of the Osu people from the region now known as Ghana, has a complex history that spans continents and decades. The W&K Gallery in Vienna and New York first presented the painting in 2021. At that time, it was in dire need of restoration. It was dirty and in an unattractive frame. Its derelict nature made it impossible to ascertain its true value. However, an intriguing stamp on the back of the painting hinted at its connection to an Austrian icon. To find answers, the gallery quickly contacted Alfred Weidinger, a renowned art historian and the author of the 2007 Gustav Klimt Catalog Raisonné. He had been searching for this particular portrait for over 20 years.

Weidinger, who has dedicated much of his career to studying Klimt’s works, authenticated the painting. He uncovered its profound historical background. Weidinger identified the portrait as one of two Klimt works. According to him, this painting of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona highlights a significant cultural event in Vienna at the end of the 19th century.

The Osu People and the Gold Coast Exhibition

The portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona was painted in 1897, during a time when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was fascinated by “ethnographic exhibitions.” The objective of these events, often controversial today, was to showcase so-called “exotic” peoples from colonized regions. One such exhibition was at the Vienna Tiergarten am Schüttel Zoo. There, members of the Osu group from what was then the British Gold Coast (now Ghana) were put on display as part of a larger presentation on the Ashanti people. The event attracted large crowds, with up to 10,000 people visiting each day to view the exhibition.

At the time, the Gold Coast was under British colonial rule. Many Europeans viewed the exhibition as a form of “anthropological” entertainment. However, it later came to light that the people in the exhibit were not Ashanti, as originally claimed. Instead, they were members of the Osu people, a subgroup of the Akan ethnic group. The Osu group, consisting of around 120 individuals, traveled by mail steamer to Vienna. There, they were put on display, during which they were able to interact with the public. It was in this cultural context that Klimt and his artist friend, Franz Matsch, attended the exhibition and subsequently painted portraits of the prince.

Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch

While both Klimt and Matsch painted the same subject, the finished works are quite different in style. Klimt’s portrait of the Osu prince is rich in his characteristic ornamental style. It features intricate details and decorative elements that would later define his mature works. According to Weidinger, the portrait has a stylistic link to Klimt’s 1897–98 painting of Sonja Knips, which is part of the Belvedere Museum’s collection in Vienna. This connection reveals the artist’s growing interest in abstract backgrounds and floral motifs, which would come to characterize his later portraits.

Matsch’s portrayal of the prince, in contrast, is more traditional and less decorative. It adheres to the conventions of portraiture at the time. Although both artists may have been commissioned to create portraits, the general belief among art historians is that Klimt’s painting remained unsigned and was kept in the artist’s possession. The suggestion is that the client preferred Matsch’s work over Klimt’s more avant-garde approach.

Gustav Klimt portrait: Mysterious Journey

This rare Gustav Klimt portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona was in THE artist’s studio until 1923. The painting was on auction at Vienna’s Samuel Kende auction house. The starting price was 15,000 crowns, but it is unclear whether it was sold. In 1928, the artwork resurfaced in a memorial exhibition for Klimt at the Vienna Secession. At that time, Ernestine Klein, a close associate of the artist, owned the painting. She had converted Klimt’s former studio into a villa.

The Kleins, both of Jewish descent, fled Austria in 1938 following the rise of the Nazi regime. They eventually settled in Monaco, where they lived in hiding until the end of World War II. The painting went missing during this period, and the general presumption was that it was lost. It wasn’t until 2023 that the portrait reappeared as part of a restitution settlement with the heirs of Ernestine Klein.

Restitution and the Return of the Portrait

The painting was lost to history without a trace for several decades. No one knew its whereabouts until recently. The rediscovery of the portrait in 2023 was due to a restitution settlement with the heirs of Ernestine Klein. After the Nazi occupation of Austria, Klein had to flee the country for safety. Several museums, including the Belvedere Museum in Vienna and the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, had previously returned works to the Kleins’ heirs, making this rediscovery part of a larger movement to return looted art to its rightful owners.

The portrait’s rediscovery has sparked significant interest in the art world, not only for its connection to Gustav Klimt but also for the cultural and historical implications it carries. The painting is now on display at TEFAF Maastricht, where it has captivated collectors and art historians alike, with an estimated value of €15 million.

A Complex Cultural Dynamics

The rediscovery of Klimt’s portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona is more than a celebration of the artist’s mastery. It is a poignant reminder of the complex cultural dynamics of the late 19th century. Exhibitions like the one in Vienna sought to present colonized peoples as curiosities for European audiences. The portrait itself, painted during this exhibition, offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of art, history, and colonialism.

Weidinger’s extensive research into the painting’s origins and its connection to the Osu people provides a crucial understanding of the work’s cultural and historical context. The fact that the painting has survived such tumultuous times—losing its way during the horrors of World War II—adds to its mystique and value.

Klimt’s Legacy: An Auction Record and Market Impact

The rediscovery of this portrait is part of a broader trend of high-profile Klimt works coming to market in the past few years. In 2023, another Klimt painting, Dame mit Fächer (ca. 1917–18), set a new auction record, selling for an astounding $108.8 million at Sotheby’s in London. With over 17 of his works now exceeding the $10 million mark, Klimt continues to be one of the most sought-after artists in the global art market.

The sale of Klimt’s works reflects not only their artistic significance but also the increasing recognition of his impact on the modern art world. The rediscovery of the portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona will likely further cement his place in art history. It will attract new collectors and art enthusiasts who wish to own a piece of this iconic artist’s legacy.

Gustav Klimt Portrait Captivates Collectors

The rediscovered Gustav Klimt portrait of an African prince is more than just a painting. It symbolizes history, art, and restitution. From its creation during a controversial exhibition in 1897 to its disappearance during World War II and its eventual return to the art world, this portrait represents a significant chapter in both Klimt’s work and the global art market. Now on display at TEFAF Maastricht with a €15 million price tag, it stands as a testament to the power of art to transcend time and history.