Gustav Klimt¹s home was the fantastic turn- of ­the-century Vienna of the belle époque. The city was filled with creative artists and intellectuals, who helped to develop new ways of living, and thinking. Klimt was truly a modern artist. He diverged from the path that was laid out for him and created a unique and innovative style that was copied by many to follow. Gustav Klimt was born on July 14th in Baumgarten near Vienna. He was one of seven children, born to a hard-working engraver who made little money. At fourteen years old he joined the School of the Applied Art in Vienna, where he and his brother Ernst studied a variety of artist's techniques, including painting and fresco work. Gustav and his brother were commissioned to do various projects such as the four allegories of the Palais Sturany , the ceilings of the Karlsbad spa and work on t he Burgtheater. After the completion of the Burgtheater Klimt became dissatisfied with the style of painting he had been doing. He grew restless with doing classical motifs, and wanted to expand and work on portraits that were more realistic. Later Klimt began to be commissioned for painting portraits. The portraits were painted by looking at a photograph, and working from that. Through this work Klimt was creating a good name for himself. Soon after this change Klimt began to go down a new path in his career.

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