In brief
The TEFAF Maastricht art fair has unveiled a significant find: an early Gustav Klimt portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona, sparking interest from a major museum currently in negotiations to acquire the piece. The painting's rich historical context and stunning detail contribute to its appeal.
A long-lost painting depicting Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona by the renowned artist Gustav Klimt has resurfaced, drawing attention at the TEFAF Maastricht art fair in the Netherlands. The piece is currently under negotiation for sale to a major museum, according to the Vienna-based gallery, Wienerroither and Kohlbacher, which is representing the artwork. The gallery priced the striking, early portrait at 15 million euros, approximately $16.4 million.Lui Wienerroither, co-founder of the gallery, confirmed that they are in active discussions, though he refrained from naming the institution involved. In the art world, it is customary for high-value sales at TEFAF Maastricht—an event that emphasizes historical art— to be finalized post-exhibition to allow buyers time to authenticate and evaluate provenance. “Processes of due diligence have to be followed,” Wienerroither remarked.The subject of the portrait was part of a group of Africans from what was then the Gold Coast, now known as Ghana. These individuals were exhibited in colonial “human zoos” across Europe in the late 19th century. During a 1896 exhibition in Vienna's Zoological Garden, where they were showcased in a mock African village, Klimt likely encountered them. This popular display drew thousands of visitors daily and was etched into the memory of Austrian literature, as depicted by writer Peter Altenberg in his novel, "Ashantee."The painting only came to light in 2023 after an Austrian couple brought the unsigned, poorly framed artwork into the gallery. Upon examination, the dealers found a faint Gustav Klimt estate stamp on the canvas. Subsequent verification from Alfred Weidinger, a recognized scholar of Klimt’s work, confirmed that Klimt had indeed painted a portrait of a prince of the Osu people; the painting itself had been lost to history for many years.Further research established that the portrait had remained in Klimt's possession until his death in 1918 and was auctioned from his estate five years later. It gained notoriety again during a Klimt memorial exhibition in Vienna, where it was listed as on loan from local collector Ernestine Klein. The recent re-emergence of this painting not only amplifies interest in Klimt's work but also raises questions about the narratives surrounding colonialism and historical representation in art.
