The presumed heir is challenging the sale of Klimt's painting *Portrait of Fräulein Liser*
A woman who claims to be the sole heir to Gustav Klimt’s painting “Portrait of Fräulein Liser” has filed a lawsuit seeking the return of the work. The painting in question was sold at auction, but its legal status is now being contested in court.
The painting, which had long been considered lost, was sold at a small auction in Austria in 2024 for $37.5 million. However, the buyer from Hong Kong withdrew their bid after the auction ended.
The dispute centers on the painting “Portrait of Fräulein Liser,” on which Klimt worked until his death in 1918. It depicts Margarete, a member of the Lizer family of industrialists, who were imprisoned after the Nazis came to power due to their Jewish heritage, and all their property was confiscated.
Patricia J. Leahy, an American, claims to be the only great-great-granddaughter of Adolf Liser, Margarete’s father, and the only great-granddaughter of Hans, Margarete’s brother.
The fate of the painting remained unknown for nearly a century. It was assumed that the Nazis had seized it in 1938 or later. The plaintiff insists that the auction house put the work up for auction without specifying its provenance.
The Im Kinsky auction house itself insists that all legal heirs were notified of the auction, and that a fair and lawful solution was found in accordance with the Washington Principles—the so-called “private restitution.” According to the auction house, a family in Austria came into possession of the portrait in the 1960s; Eva Ropper then purchased it in 2022 and consigned it to Im Kinsky for sale. The auction house also states that new research suggests the painting may have depicted Margarete’s cousins—Helena or Anni.
Lihi, however, claims that Im Kinsky did not consult with international Klimt experts. Furthermore, no one contacted her, and she objected to the sale even before the auction began. According to her, she received threats that a lawsuit would be filed against her if she obstructed the sale of the painting. The threats allegedly came from a law firm representing other heirs.
The alleged heiress emphasizes that the painting was sold at an undervalued price. By comparison, Klimt’s “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer” was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $236.4 million. She notes that the portrait was sold at a small auction in Austria, rather than at Christie’s or Sotheby’s, because lots are vetted much more thoroughly there. In addition, Austrian laws regarding property confiscated by the Nazis are not as strict.
According to Lihi’s lawsuit, the buyer attempted to reach an agreement with all potential claimants to the painting, and when this failed, ultimately withdrew his bid. The plaintiff claims that the painting is still in the possession of the auction house, which has stopped responding to inquiries, Art News reports.
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