He was Catholic, but may have had a child by a Jewish woman. Many of his models were Jewish women, for example Adele Bloch Bauer's portrait was renamed by Nazis "Lady in Gold". Many of his patrons who financed his artwork were Jewish, meaning they owned the art which was subsequently stolen and defaced by Nazis on their retreat from Austria. The US Supreme court ruled for families and their heirs who lost his art to sue the government of Austria for the paintings for their return to the rightful owners. Most of them have been returned, leaving Austria virtually Klimt-free.
