Where can I see this portrait?

Portrait of Joseph Pembauer is displayed at the Tyrolean State Museum (Tiroler Landesmuseum) in Innsbruck, Austria.

Who was Joseph Pembauer?

Joseph Pembauer was a pianist and piano teacher. Klimt included the god Apollo with a lyre to reference his musical career.

What style is this painting?

This 1890 portrait shows Klimt's early realistic style before his famous Art Nouveau golden period. The decorative frame hints at his later symbolic work.

Where Is Portrait of Joseph Pembauer? Museum Location

Gustav Klimt painted the Portrait of Joseph Pembauer in 1890, depicting the pianist and piano teacher with striking realism. The oil on canvas measures 69 x 55 cm and shows Pembauer in formal attire against a decorative frame that Klimt designed himself. At top right stands Apollo, the Greek god of music, playing a lyre.

The frame's symbolic elements relate abstraction to reality, connecting the viewer to Pembauer's musical career. This combination of naturalistic portraiture and stylized decoration was new to European art. The portrait looks so lifelike it could almost be mistaken for a photograph, demonstrating the technical skill Klimt developed painting portraits from photographs as a student.

In 1888, Klimt received the Golden Order of Merit from the Emperor for his contributions to murals. His ability to capture a likeness with photographic accuracy served him well when painting Vienna's elite. The painting hangs at the Tyrolean State Museum (Tiroler Landesmuseum) in Innsbruck, Austria, showing Klimt before his famous golden period.

Portrait of Joseph Pembauer

Where to See It

The Artist

More by Gustav Klimt

Female organ player

Draft of a theater curtain

Portrait of a lady

Head Study of a Girl from Haná

Related Symbolism Works

The Oyster Eater

The Crossing

Self-Portrait with Mirror

Aino Myth, Triptych

Boy with a Crow

Lemminkäinen's Mother

Rustic Life

Christ's Entry into Brussels in 1889

About Portrait of Joseph Pembauer

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