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What the painting shows
Ria Munk on Her Deathbed by Klimt presents a close view of the young woman lying in profile. Her head rests on a large white pillow decorated with pale pink blossoms, her dark hair falling back against the linen. Her eyes are closed, her lips part slightly, and her pale face is set against a deep blue background at the top of the canvas.
A garland of vivid red, pink, and white roses runs across the foreground, framing the lower edge of her figure. She wears a patterned garment of soft pink, lilac, and brown tones, painted with visible brushstrokes that contrast with the smooth modeling of her skin. The square oil painting measures 50 by 50.5 cm. In Klimt’s wider selection of portraits, this picture stands out for its direct and solemn focus on the face.
Who the sitter was
The sitter depicted in the work is Ria Munk. Klimt painted her likeness in 1912, rendering her features at close range as she rests amid the surrounding flowers.
Where to see it
Ria Munk on Her Deathbed is held in a private collection, so it is not currently on public display in a museum. You can explore the full range of the artist’s career and trace where other pieces reside across our catalog of every Klimt painting.
Questions about Ria Munk on Her Deathbed
When did Klimt paint Ria Munk on Her Deathbed?
Gustav Klimt painted Ria Munk on Her Deathbed in 1912. He executed the square composition in oil on canvas, measuring 50 by 50.5 centimeters. The artwork depicts the deceased sitter resting against a white pillow surrounded by colorful blossoms, and it remains today in a private collection rather than on display in a public museum.
Who owns Ria Munk on Her Deathbed by Klimt?
Ria Munk on Her Deathbed by Gustav Klimt is owned by a private collection. Because the 1912 oil painting is privately owned rather than housed in a public art museum or gallery, it is not on permanent public display. Klimt completed the canvas at a nearly square size of 50 by 50.5 centimeters.
