The Painting That Smashed Gustav Klimt's Auction Record
3 min read · 19 Nov 2025
Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer (Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer). Image courtesy of Sotheby's
Gustav Klimt's, Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer (Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer) (1914) sold for $236.4m, more than one and a half times the low estimate at Sotheby's in New York on November 17. The oil on canvas, which last belonged to Leonard Lauder, had been traded 6 times in the past. He acquired the portrait in 1985.
Commissioned by Elisabeth Lederer's parents, the painting was seized in 1938 during the Nazi era and recovered by Elisabeth's brother in 1948.
Their father, the industrialist August Lederer, and mother, Serena, were Klimt's greatest patrons and he was a family friend. Elisabeth called him "uncle". She recalled how much he "cursed and swore" when working on preparatory drawings of her, which amused her greatly.
Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan). Image courtesy of Sotheby's
The sale beat Klimt’s previous auction record by $127.6m, a 100% rise. His previous record was set by Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) (1917), which sold for $108.7m at Sotheby's on June 27, 2023. The work had been traded 8 times in the past.
Sale Date | Title | Price | Record Increase | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 17, 2025 | Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer (Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer) | $236.4m | 117 % | Sotheby's | New York |
June 27, 2023 | Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) | $108.7m | 4 % | Sotheby's | London |
November 09, 2022 | Birch Forest | $104.6m | 19 % | Christie's | New York |
November 08, 2006 | Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II | $87.9m | 238 % | Christie's | New York |
November 05, 2003 | Landhaus am Attersee | $26m | 10 % | Sotheby's | New York |
October 09, 1997 | Schloss Kammer am Attersee II | $23.59m | 76 % | Christie's | London |
May 13, 1997 | Litzlbergerkeller am Attersee | $13.4m | 15 % | Sotheby's | New York |
May 11, 1994 | Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan) | $11.66m | 141 % | Sotheby's | New York |
June 30, 1987 | Castle Kammer on Lake Atter II | $4.84m | 38 % | Sotheby's | London |
May 11, 1987 | Portrait of Eugenia Mada Primavesi | $3.5m | 36 % | Sotheby's | New York |
March 31, 1987 | Portrait of Rose von Rosthorn-Friedmann | $2.57m | 186 % | Sotheby's | London |
December 06, 1983 | The golden rider | $899,300 | 525 % | Sotheby's | London |
May 28, 1974 | Die grosse Pappel II | $143,800 | 188 % | Dorotheum | Vienna |
November 30, 1971 | Bildnis Hermine Gallia | $49,900 | - | Christie's | London |
Get the HENI News Daily Art Digest delivered to your inbox