March 3, 2026
Last week our PhDs were fortunate enough to experience a behind the scenes look at Klimt's Beethoven Frieze. Originally made for the main hall of the Vienna Secession building, for the XIVth exhibition of the Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession in 1902, this artwork extols the primacy of art for mankind's happiness. Prof. Dr. Ivo Hammer, who worked on the conservation of the frieze during 1977-84 as it was placed in its current exhibition hall in the lower level of the Secession, gave us unique insights into the process of conserving Klimt's art. He told us how the frieze was cleaned and restored, how the frieze is currently supported with a mixture of cardboad and canes, and took us up behind the frieze to see the wood and metal work preserving it for generations to come. We are very grateful to Prof. Hammer for this unique opportunity and for generously answering all our questions.