May 8, 1945 not only marked the end of the Second World War, but also stands for one of the greatest cultural loss losses in Austrian history, triggered by the devastating fire in Immendorf Castle in Lower Austria. These events are for the 80th time in 2025, reason enough for the MAK and the non-profit climate foundation, an exhibition on the subject Gustav Klimt, the Mak and Immendorf Castle: burned, destroyed, lost? (16.7.–21.9.2025) align. The events related to the fire in the Freudenthal family, which in World War II, as a valuable and supposedly safe art depot – served for works by Gustav Klimt – have not yet been fully clarified. The exhibition provides a profound insight into the dimension of the catastrophe.
From 1942, the castle, which was first mentioned in the 13th century, served as a rescue location for works of art that should be protected from war effects. The then owner, Baron Rudolf von Freudenthal, made rooms available for this. Some sources indicate that in May 1945 the castle was specifically set up by German troops – presumably the SS – to withdraw the stored art objects of the Red Army. However, clear proof of this is still missing today. There are also no indications of the participation of Soviet soldiers. Based on the current factual situation, the occasional statements that individual climate paintings have been outsourced before the fire may not be confirmed.
The burned works include the three Faculty pictures For the large ballroom of the University of Vienna with the associated composition designs, among other things, the supraport pictures The music (1897/98) and Schubert on the piano (1899) from the Palais Nikolaus Dumbas on the Wiener Ringstrasse and the paintings The golden apple tree (1903), Farm garden with crucifix (1912), BildnisWally (1916), Friends II (1916/17), Garden path with chickens (1916) or Leda (1917) from the forced -in August and Serena Lederers.
The State Art Trade Museum in Vienna (today Mak) lost the one in Immendorf Castle Laxenburger Zimmervarious East Asian and Islamic objects, early modern handicrafts, over fifty furniture, leather wallpapers, twelve carpets and that Möchlinger Graba wooden shrine carved in the form of a Gothic church from the 15th century on the flames.
In addition to original plans and a new architectural model of the castle, the exhibition will show a new film documentary on the events in Immendorf Castle with interviews by contemporary witnesses. Directed by Peter Weinhäupl, Director of the Klimt Foundation, Vienna and Stefan Kutzenberger, art historian and author. The Danish filmmaker Rikke Kutzenberger took the cinematic implementation. “Masterpieces of reproductive art” from the valuable climate folders, which were published in 1908–1914, 1917/18 and 1931, illustrated in color the invaluable loss of some original climate paintings. The Klimt Foundation provides these and other loans from its collection. Original documents such as rescue lists kept in the MAK and valuable archive material from the Federal Monument Office in Austria, the archive of the Künstlerhaus Vienna and the Lower Austrian State Library also provide profound insights into the events around the supposedly secure rescue location Schloss Immendorf and enable a fact -based overall picture.
The exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive management program, discussion events with provenance researchers, art historians and historians as well as a screening of the ORF culture documentation for Immendorf puzzle On September 2nd, 2025 in the Maklenhalle.
The MAK is dedicating the exhibition to the memory of his provenance researcher Leonhard Weidinger († 2023), who has been particularly well deserved for the processing of the recovery history of the MAK, also in connection with Immendorf Castle.
Press photos are under MAK.at/presse ready for download.
An exhibition of the MAK in cooperation with the Klimt Foundation, Vienna
www.klimt-foundation.com
www.klimt-database.com
press conference
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2025, 10 a.m.
We ask for registration at press@mak.at
opening
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2025, 7 p.m.
Admission free to the opening of the exhibition
Exhibition location
Mak Forum
Mak, Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna
Exhibition duration
16.7.–21.9.2025
Opening times
Tue 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed to Sun 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Guest curator
Peter Weinhäupl, Director Klimt-Foundation, Vienna
Curator
Rainald Franz, Kustode Mak Collection Glass and Ceramic
Curatorial support
Sandra Gradisnik, Laura Honor, Barbara Marx
Program
Details at mak.at
Mak entry
Ꞓ 16.50/15.50*; reduced ꞓ 13.50/12.50*;
Every Tuesday 18 to 10 p.m.: Entry ꞓ 8/7.50*
Admission free for children and adolescents under 19
* Ticket price in online pre-sale