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); "Colorized" indicates the modern digital reconstruction of the destroyed canvas
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 creation1900-1907 (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 representing death visible at 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 generous 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. "Colorized" in the title refers to the modern digital reconstruction based on surviving colour evidence)
Technique/MediumOil on canvas (with gold and silver leaf accents in Hygieia's robe, foreshadowing Klimt's Golden Phase)
Original dimensions430 x 300 cm (same monumental vertical format as Philosophy and Jurisprudence)
Collection/MuseumDestroyed (the painting was burned by retreating SS forces in the fire at Schloss Immendorf, Lower Austria, on 8 May 1945, together with Klimt's two other Faculty Paintings Philosophy and Jurisprudence; the work survives only through black-and-white documentary photographs, a partial colour photograph of the figure of Hygieia, preparatory sketches and oil studies. Recent digital colorized reconstructions — including the one produced by Google Arts & Culture in 2021 with the Belvedere — have used the surviving colour evidence to restore an approximation of the original chromatic state)
We provide Worldwide Shipping with tracking to most locations around the world. We operate a global production network, which allows us to produce and deliver orders locally for free. Our production facilities are located in the US, Canada, UK, Spain, and Australia.
Shipping times around the world vary based on your location. Here are our estimated delivery times from the day of purchase:
US, Canada: 7-10 business days
Continental US, Alaska and Hawaii: 10-14 business days
UK: 7-10 business days
Australia: 7-10 business days
EU: 10-14 business days
Rest of the World: 14 business days
Above times are estimates, and include handling time to prepare your order. Business days exclude weekends and holidays. Please refer to the delivery time specific to your shipping address that is presented during the checkout.
We currently ship with the following global shipping partners: FedEx, UPS, DHL, GLS, Canada Post, Royal Mail, Aramex, and Australia Post.
Museum-quality reproductions
Each print is crafted with meticulous care, ensuring every detail captures the essence of the original masterpiece.
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.
*Requests framing (frame is not included with this option)
Canvas Features
Our gallery wrapped canvas framed with a wooden frame and ready to hang out of the box with hanging hardware pre-installed.
*Specially coated with poly-cot canvas for the highest durability and best color vibrancy. Archival grade canvas.
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.
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.
Okay, let me start by saying this is my favorite painting of all time. I love skulls. I am beyond thrilled to own this piece and show it off to all who enter! I cannot believe this was painted in 1533.. It stirs me. 10/10 piece. Easy.
I am attaching two photos of the upper left corner where the crucifix lies hidden in plain sight. I am disappointed that the wrap of the canvas wasn't very tight on this one. Because of the loose wrapping.. you can clearly see that the crucifix is mirrored from the printing job and it kind of ruins that corner of the piece because it is a detail you aren't suppose to notice right away. Unfortunately it sticks out in plain view. I plan to take black paint and just tape off the edge and fill the outer edge so the crucifix has a proper corner to inhabit. Although, I am hesitant to try and alter something so expensive.. Not sure what to do.
Solid as usual. Solid as always. The Last Days of Pompeii is dramatic and moody; just what I wanted. Print quality is sharp, colors are faithful. The artwork is theatrical, and work well on canvas. I'm a history nut and have had a fascination with Pompeii since my teens, so this one had to join my collection. Happy with it.
We made our first purchase from Inspiraggio, The Beheading of St John the Baptist | Caravaggio | 1608.
We absolutely love it. The quality and framing are amazing. It changes the whole room.
Thanks!!!
I ordered two paintings from Inspiraggio, and both are of incredible quality and remarkably faithful to the originals. The canvas and frame both feel sturdy, and the level of detail is truly impressive. I’m delighted with my purchases and would definitely order from them again in the future
Very pretty. I knew I had to have 'Vanity' when I saw it. 'The Great Red Dragon...' is... great as well. Both quality prints, really like how they look in my apartment.
It's a masterpiece! It really fits the horror theme of my office room. It scares my wife but that what I was going for. I will definitely order more photos, not just for me but as gifts as well. I already have "the laughing fool" picture on the way. Thank you guys
Very poorly packaged—thin cardboard; I don't know how it survived shipping. The stretcher frame is too weak, leaving the canvas sagging and barely taut; at least one extra crossbar needs to be added to get the tension up to an acceptable standard. Check pictures, description diameters for package was overestimated few cm.