L’IMPERO DI SISSI

SISSI’S EMPIRE

Under the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth, also known as Sissi, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. The 1848 revolution marked a crucial moment, with rebellions against absolutism leading to harsh repression and reform. Sissi, famed for her rebellious spirit and passion for the arts, became an icon of her time. Vienna was the heart of the Empire, a nexus where tradition and modernity collided. This bustling city, full of culture and shrouded in historical complexities, deeply influenced Klimt’s upbringing and artistic development.


IMAGE CAPTION N° 1

Portrait of Empress Sissi by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1865)


IMAGE CAPTION N° 2

 Portrait of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1865)


IMAGE CAPTION N° 3

View of Vienna from the Belvedere by Bernardo Bellotto (1759–1760)


To understand my art, you must know Vienna.

Gustav Klimt