Gustav Klimt’s Faculty Paintings—Philosophy(1900), Medicine (1901), and Jurisprudence (1903)—form one of the most controversial trilogies in modern art. Originally commissioned for the University of Vienna, these monumental works shocked the public with their dark symbolism, fragmented bodies, and unsettling depictions of human suffering. Philosophy dissolves humanity into a cosmic swirl, Medicine confronts the fragility of life through a towering column of naked figures, and Jurisprudence shows humanity trapped and judged by inescapable forces. Their radical style and pessimistic worldview caused such outrage that the university rejected them, and the paintings were later destroyed in 1945—surviving today only through photographs that reveal how far Klimt was willing to push both art and society.
TitleMedicine (Medizin) — second of the University of Vienna Ceiling Paintings / Faculty Paintings (Fakultätsbilder)
ArtistGustav Klimt (Austrian Symbolist; co-founder and first president of the Vienna Secession 1897; Baumgarten near Vienna, 14 July 1862 - Vienna, 6 February 1918)
Year of creation900-1907 (the second of the three Faculty Paintings commissioned in 1894 by the Austrian Ministry of Education for the ceiling of the University of Vienna's Great Hall. Klimt first exhibited Medicine in unfinished state at the Tenth Vienna Secession exhibition in March 1901, where it provoked an even greater scandal than Philosophy had the previous year — 87 faculty members signed a petition against the cycle, and the painting was attacked in a medical journal for its lack of allegorical homage to the science of healing and for its explicit female nudity. Rather than glorifying medicine, the composition shows on the right a vertical column of intertwined naked human bodies — a river of life flowing from birth to death, with a skeleton of Death visible at the top right — while on the left a single nude female figure floats free of the stream, suspended in space. At the foot of the composition stands the painting's only "medical" figure: Hygieia, the daughter of Aesculapius and goddess of health, frontally facing, robed in red and gold, holding the Aesculapian serpent and the Cup of Lethe — and conspicuously turning her back on suffering humanity, the most provocative element of the entire cycle. After the Ministry refused to install the paintings in the Great Hall, Klimt resigned the commission in 1905 and repaid his 30,000-crown advance with the support of August Lederer. Provenance: Klimt; sold to Koloman Moser between 1910 and 1912; sold by the Moser family in 1919; acquired through patrons by the Österreichische Galerie / Belvedere, Vienna; confiscated by the Nazis after the 1938 Anschluss; transferred to Schloss Immendorf for safekeeping in 1944; destroyed there the following May)
Technique/MediumOil on canvas (with gold and silver leaf accents in the figure of Hygieia, foreshadowing Klimt's Golden Phase)
Original dimensions430 x 300 cm (same monumental vertical format as Philosophy and Jurisprudence)
Collection/MuseumDestroyed (burned by retreating SS forces in the fire at Schloss Immendorf, Lower Austria, on 8 May 1945, along with Klimt's other two Faculty Paintings Philosophy and Jurisprudence; survives only through black-and-white documentary photographs, a single partial colour photograph of the figure of Hygieia, and preparatory sketches and oil studies)
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This way, you receive the most faithful reproduction possible, bringing the museum experience directly into your home.
Bright & intensive color spectrum. Best choice if you plan to frame it by yourself/local craft shop.
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Our gallery wrapped canvas framed with a wooden frame and ready to hang out of the box with hanging hardware pre-installed.
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Black Frame
Black floating frame is a popular add-on to any canvas during the purchase. The frame is build using our proprietary profile radial pine, and coated with black graphite that gives it a gallery quality, luxurious matte finish.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.7 / 5 from 1881 reviews.
I love the cross cultural referencing in this piece, with the subtle color choices it brings life to my space!
Einfach beeindruckend! Die Qualität dieser Kunstreproduktion ist wirklich außergewöhnlich und hat meine Erwartungen weit übertroffen. Die beeindruckende Detailtreue, die wunderschönen Farben und die hochwertige Ausführung lassen den Kunstdruck wie ein echtes Ausstellungsstück aus einer Kunstgalerie wirken. Ein absolut faszinierendes Ergebnis, das diesem Meisterwerk wirklich gerecht wird!
Auch die Lieferung war sensationell schnell und das Kunstwerk hervorragend und sicher verpackt. Hier stimmt einfach alles! Ich bin rundum begeistert und kann es nur wärmstens weiterempfehlen. Jederzeit sehr gerne wieder!
Ich kann es kaum erwarten, eines Tages auch das Original dieses Masterpieces in einem Pariser Museum mit eigenen Augen zu bewundern. Vielen herzlichen Dank für dieses wunderschöne Kunstwerk!
I am extremely happy with the quality of image/paper is excellent! Thank you for resolving my first time experience. I look forward to my next purchase!
There was a bit of a wait for the pictures but it was worth it. The production quality of the print was far higher than purchases I have made from other vendors. It's sturdier, clearer & the price was fair.
The piece itself is in my basement. As you come down the steps it hangs on the opposite wall. Despite ordering a smaller print it commands the most attention in the room. I absolutely love this piece.
This is the first painting I buy from your site and from any site at all in fact, and except a minor delivery issue - that only implied FedEx - everything went smoothly ! Your team responded quickly concerning this issue and that add up to the quality of service !
The reproduction is beautifully done, the contrast are good and the colors are vibrant.
I am really happy with this product and will definitely crave for more !
Wonderful quality, arrived very quickly (From Estonia to Canada), but most of all I am grateful for your YouTube videos to learn the background of this fascinating painting origin.
I have the other Daniel painting also, the one where he is entering the lion's den. My daughter liked it so much, that I lent it to her, not sure I'd ever get it back so ordered this one. Keep it in the blue bedroom we use for visitors, always sparks a conversion.
Just love it !
Well. This Image is more jpeg like than i would prefer. I never seen the original in the louvre, but I think it could be better. Especially for 300 euros.
I simply love the portrait of the three black cats! - flawless print, elegant frame and quick shipping with sufficient packaging.
I will be coming back for more!
Thank you! <3
Extremely clear and detailed. Photo is the print with museum grade glass.
You could look at it a hundred times and still notice a different detail each time.
We absolutely love this print! We framed it and displayed it in our sacred space area. Great addition to our decor and a powerful piece of art. Many thanks.