On Tuesday 23 June 2010 Christie’s of London are holding an Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale.

The sale will include one of the last great female portraits painted by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). Executed in 1917-18, Frauenbildnis (Portrait of Ria Munk III) is the third and final painting in a series of three portraits commissioned by the Munk family of their daughter Ria. One of the last and most modern of Klimt’s full-length female portraits, the painting offers a glimpse into the working methods of one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century and is expected to realise £14 million to £18 million.

Giovanna Bertazzoni, Director and Head of Impressionist and Modern art at Christie’s, London:

“It is an exceptionally rare occasion to be able to offer at auction a late portrait by Gustav Klimt, let alone a portrait of such importance; this is only the second or third comparable example to be offered at auction in over 20 years. Gustav Klimt is an artist with an international following and we look forward to offering this exceptional work to collectors from around the world in London in June.”

Soon after Klimt’s death in 1918, the painting passed into the possession of Aranka Munk. The painting was then housed in her lakeside villa in Bad Aussee until 1941 when the villa and its contents were seized by the National Socialists and the portrait passed into the hands of the collector and dealer William Gurlitt. In 1953 Frauenbildnis was among a number of important paintings that Gurlitt donated to the Neue Galerie der Stadt in Linz which came to be known as the Lentos Museum. The painting subsequently remained in the Lentos Museum, Linz until June 2009 when it was voluntarily restituted to the heirs of Aranka Munk whose heirs have entrusted Christie’s to sell the painting on their behalf.

If you’re attending this auction you might want to consider staying at Chelsea’s only 5 star hotel the Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour. Click here for more info.