A life in Vienna
Ernst Klimt lived much of his life within the streets of Vienna. He arrived at the University of Applied Arts in 1877, a student of only thirteen years. His brother Gustav had been studying there for a year already. They both sat under the instruction of Ferdinand Laufberger, a decorative painter and engraver. This early period was marked by shared work and shared teachers.
The family lived through modest means. His father, also named Ernst Klimt, worked as a gold engraver from Bohemia. In 1881, following the death of Laufberger, Ernst joined Gustav and their friend Franz Matsch to form the Künstler-Compagnie. They opened a studio together two years later. This group took on various tasks, from creating curtains for theaters in Reichenberg, Karlsbad, and Fiume to painting ceilings.
In 1891, he married Helene Flöge. She was the sister of Emilie Flöge, a friend of his brother. They had a daughter, also named Helene. His time in Vienna ended unexpectedly in 1892 due to an inflammation of the pericardium.
The work of the company
Much of his output involved large-scale decorative projects. He worked on ceiling paintings for the Hermesvilla and contributed frescoes to the stairwell of the Burgtheater. These pieces were part of a larger effort involving his brother and Matsch. In 1890, they helped finish paintings in the staircase of the Kunsthistorisches Museum that had been left incomplete by Hans Makart.
His individual commissions reached beyond the borders of Austria. He completed large works at Mondsee Castle and Peleș Castle in Romania. His hand is seen in various pieces of art, including:
- Still Life with Armor
- Two putti with a peacock and a pigeon on a... , 1883
- Bildnis eines Mädchens in weiß-rosa Kleid mit...
- Drei Musen (design for exhibition poster), 1892
A shared legacy
The death of Ernst Klimt in 1892 left many works unfinished. His brother Gustav took over the care of his wife and daughter, and he also worked to complete the paintings Ernst had left behind. While the Künstler-Compagnie dissolved officially after his passing, professional ties between the remaining members continued for years.
He was buried at the Baumgartner Friedhof, in the same place as his father, who had passed away only months before him.
