Pallas Athena, c. 1900

This relief in tondo shape was created by the chaser and metal sculptor Georg Klimt (1867–1931) around 1900. Georg was the youngest of the three Klimt brothers. Like his brothers, he attended the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts. He collaborated repeatedly with Gustav Klimt (1862–1918): Georg for instance executed picture frames designed by his older brother, as well as the Burial Cross of the Klimt Family Grave at the Baumgartner Friedhof cemetery in Vienna. The present object is wrought from a thin piece of sheet brass and represents Pallas Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, but also the protectress of the arts. The repoussé work is thought to be loosely connected to various depictions of the goddess created by Gustav Klimt. The choice to depict Athena in profile to the left, in particular, recalls Gustav Klimt’s poster for the 1st Secession Exhibition of 1898 Ver Sacrum. Theseus and Minotaur. Poster for the 1st Art Exhibition of the Vienna Secession.

MR, 2022