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What the painting shows
Portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona by Klimt presents the Ghanaian prince in a three-quarter profile, seen slightly from above. The sitter’s bare upper torso is half covered by a draped toga, and his dark eyes hold an introspective gaze.
You can see a clear contrast between the precise modeling of Dowuona’s face and the looser handling of the surroundings. Klimt painted the head in a careful, naturalistic style, picking out light across the forehead, cheek, and dark beard. The muted greenish-grey background lacks architectural depth, broken only by loose, sketchy floral stems behind the figure. Art historian Alfred Weidinger noted that this decorative treatment directly connects to Klimt’s subsequent pioneering portraits.
Who the sitter was
Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona came from the Ga ethnic group in Osu, a suburb of Accra in modern Ghana. The ruling Osu Mantse appointed him to lead a troupe of Ghanaian performers who traveled to Austria. In 1897, Dowuona stayed in Vienna to participate in Viktor Bamberger’s ethnographic exhibition at the Tiergarten am Schüttel in the Prater.
Klimt and fellow artist Franz Matsch both painted Dowuona during his stay in the city, though the exact circumstances of their meeting remain unrecorded. Scholar Alfred Weidinger suspects that Viennese textile industrialist Nikolaus Dumba commissioned both artists. Matsch signed his version for the patron, while Klimt left his canvas unsigned and retained it in his studio.
Where to see it
The oil painting is currently in a private collection, so you cannot see it on permanent museum display. It remained in Klimt’s studio until his death, eventually passing to the Klein family, who bought the artist’s former villa in 1922. The painting disappeared during the Nazi era after the family fled into exile, only resurfacing decades later before its authentication in 2023.
Following a restitution agreement with the Klein heirs, the work went on public view at the TEFAF art fair in 2025. In late 2025, the Hungarian government raised a possible restitution claim over its export, leaving the legal ownership unresolved. To trace how this rare study fits alongside every Klimt painting, explore our complete catalogue.
Questions about Portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona
Who was William Nii Nortey Dowuona?
William Nii Nortey Dowuona was a prince from Osu, a suburb of Accra in Ghana, belonging to the Ga ethnic group. The local ruler, the Osu Mantse, designated Dowuona to head a delegation of African performers. In 1897, he traveled to Vienna to appear in Viktor Bamberger's ethnographic exhibition at the Tiergarten am Schüttel. Gustav Klimt encountered Dowuona during this Viennese engagement and painted his portrait.
Who owns Portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona by Klimt?
Portrait of Prince William Nii Nortey Dowuona by Klimt is held in a private collection, with its legal ownership currently considered unresolved. The portrait originally belonged to the Klein family before being lost during World War II. Following a restitution settlement with the family's heirs, Hungary raised an export dispute in late 2025, claiming the artwork was unlawfully removed from Budapest, leaving full title to the canvas contested.
