Immediately before starting work with Adele, Klimt had been to the San Vitale Basilica in Ravenna and scholars believe that it was the brilliant mosaics of the empress Theodora he saw there that gave the artist the idea of creating a golden portrait of Adele in the form of a painted mosaic.
Vahetult enne töö algust Adelega oli Klimt käinud Ravennas San Vitale basiilikas ning uurijad arvavad, et just seal nähtud hiilgavad mosaiigid keisrinna Theodorast andsid kunstnikule idee teha kuldne portree Adelest värvitud mosaiigina.