Allegory of Sacred Music (Female Organ Player)

The early study titled "Allegory of (Church) Music" shows the design of one of seven large-format ceiling paintings in the city theater of Rijeka, which Klimt and his artists' company completed in 1885. The commission to decorate the theater constructed by architects Helmer & Fellner was likely ordered during 1884. The only thing known is that at the beginning of April 1885, the ceiling and proscenium paintings produced on canvas in distemper were exhibited in the Imperial Royal Museum of Art and Industry in Vienna before being delivered to their destination. The artists did not paint the large canvases on location but completed them as usual in their Vienna studio at Sandwirthgasse 8.
The theme provided was a cycle of allegories on the various genres of music. Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch each produced three large oval ceiling paintings, while Ernst Klimt created the painting above the proscenium. After the concert hall in the Kursalon Karlsbad and the city theater of Reichenberg, this commission was already their third opportunity to create large ceiling paintings for a theater building by Helmer & Fellner. Klimt's design for the allegory of music shows an organ player in a luxurious blue silk dress. The most unusual detail here is that she kneels before the instrument. This turns the organ into an altar, additionally symbolizing the sacred aspect of the music. Her glorified view towards the heavens is also indicative of this. The figure is accompanied by a mandolin-playing angel in white robes who hovers just behind her head, as well as a couple of singing cherubs in the clouds on the right side of the painting.