The Story of (the other) Adele

2.17.12

Remember when the spectacular Klimt paintings were at LACMA a few years back?   Since that unforgettable exhibit left town in 2006, Washington Post reporter Anne-Marie O’Connor has researched and written the incredible history of the most famous of the paintings, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer. The book, Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece was just published, and you can catch the author around town this spring.  But do your homework first: click here to buy the book...

The author is speaking  as part of a Zocolo Public Square event at the Skirball Cultural Center on Tuesday, March 6 at 8:00 PM. Anne-Marie O’Connor – Gustav Klimt’s Stolen Masterpiece is free (as are all Zocolo events) and you can make online reservations here.

Here is a New York Times article describing the many complex parts of the story, which includes a US Supreme Court case, Ronald Lauder’s exorbitant purchase price and an LA angle to Adele’s story.  The famous painting itself resides at the Neue Gallerie in New York City.

As it happens, Angelenos can get their Klimt fix this summer when The Getty Center hosts a show of Klimt drawings (Gustav Klimt: The Magic of Line July 3–September 23, 2012), so mark your calendars!