Ernest Klimt

Ernst Klimt (3 January 1864-9 December 1892) was an Austrian history painter and decorative painter. He was a younger brother of the better-known artist Gustav Klimt. He was the third of seven children, born to modest circumstances. In 1877, at age thirteen, he became a student at the University of Applied Arts, where his older brother, Gustav, had been studying for a year. The brothers were both students of the decorative painter and engraver, Ferdinand Laufberger. He also introduced them to Hans Makart, who employed them for an imperial commission. In 1881, he, Gustav, and their friend from school, Franz Matsch, founded the "Kunstler-Compagnie" and, two years later, opened their own studio. They completed several commissions; Ernst's largest solo commissions were at Mondsee Castle and Peles Castle in Romania. In 1891, he married Helene Floge. He died unexpectedly the next year, from an inflammation of the pericardium.