Isabella Flores
Leonardo da Vinci's painting 'Salvator Mundi' sold for a record-breaking $450 million at Christie's auction house in New York in 2017, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. The painting, which depicts Jesus Christ, has a fascinating history, having been considered a copy before being recognised as an original work by Leonardo da Vinci. The sale of 'Salvator Mundi' sparked a series of discussions and concerns regarding the authenticity and valuation of artworks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Painting | Salvator Mundi |
| Artist | Leonardo da Vinci |
| Date | c. 1499–1510 |
| Subject | Jesus Christ |
| Medium | Oil on walnut |
| Dimensions | 45.7 cm x 65.7 cm |
| Attribution | Attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, but disputed |
| Previous Owners | Sir Francis Cook; Basil Clovis Hendry Sr.; Alexander Parish and Robert Simon; Dmitry Rybolovlev |
| Current Owner | Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia |
| Sale Price | $450.3 million |
| Auction House | Christie's, New York |
| Date of Sale | 15 November 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
Salvator Mundi's journey from unknown to the most expensive Da Vinci painting
Salvator Mundi, meaning 'Savior of the World', is a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci. It depicts Jesus Christ in Renaissance attire, making a gesture of blessing with his right hand, while holding a crystal orb in his left hand. The painting is believed to have been created by da Vinci between 1499 and 1510, and it has a rich history that has contributed to its record-breaking price.
The painting's journey began in obscurity, with its first confirmed record in modern times being its acquisition by the British collector Francis Cook in 1900. However, by the time it entered Cook's collection, it had already undergone several restoration attempts and was attributed to Bernardino Luini, a follower of Leonardo da Vinci. Despite this initial attribution, the painting's true origins remained uncertain, and it was later sold at auction in 1958 as a work by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, another pupil of da Vinci.
In 2005, the painting was rediscovered at a small auction in New Orleans by art dealers Alexander Parish and Robert Simon, who purchased it for a relatively modest sum of $1,175. At the time, the dealers did not recognize the work as a painting by da Vinci, and it was only after extensive research and restoration that its potential significance began to emerge.
The turning point in the painting's journey came in 2011 when it was included in an exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci's work at the National Gallery in London. This exhibition, which presented the most complete display of da Vinci's surviving paintings, marked the painting's acceptance as a fully autograph work by the artist. The decision to include the painting in this prestigious exhibition was supported by curators and scholars who cited the use of sfumato, the reflection in the orb, the styling of the drapery, and the rendering of Christ's hair as matching da Vinci's technique.
Despite some ongoing debates about its attribution, the painting's status as an authentic work by Leonardo da Vinci was solidified, contributing to its monumental valuation. On November 15, 2017, "Salvator Mundi" was auctioned at Christie's in New York, selling for a record-breaking price of $450.3 million, including the buyer's premium. This sale not only set a new benchmark for the most expensive painting ever sold at auction but also marked a significant moment in art history, attracting global interest and a fierce bidding war.
The journey of "Salvator Mundi" from a relatively unknown piece to the most expensive da Vinci painting is indeed a tale of discovery, restoration, and escalating value. The extensive restorations it underwent played a crucial role in revealing its true artistic merit and solidifying its significance in the art world.
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The painting's restoration and authentication
Salvator Mundi, a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, is considered the most expensive painting ever sold. The painting was sold at an auction in New York on November 15, 2017, for an undisclosed amount.
The painting's restoration:
The Salvator Mundi painting was probably placed in a gilded frame in the nineteenth century and remained there until 2005. The painting had been damaged by previous restoration attempts and was attributed to Bernardino Luini, a follower of Leonardo. In 2005, the painting was sold at an auction in New Orleans. It was later restored by New York-based conservator Dianne Dwyer Modestini, who spent hundreds of hours restoring the painting. The restoration process involved using solvents to clean off the murky varnish and over-paint that was concealing the painting's true identity.
The painting's authentication:
Before the sale at Christie's in New York, experts like Nica Rieppi spent four years using the latest technology and detailed art books to authenticate the painting. The authentication process involved analyzing the painting at a microscopic level, determining the pigments, materials, and techniques used to create it. They also used technical imaging with x-rays, infrared, and ultraviolet technology to evaluate its evolution.
Other instances of restoration and authentication of Leonardo da Vinci's paintings:
The Last Supper, another famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci, has undergone restoration and conservation work over many centuries. The painting, located in Milan, Italy, was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1495. The restoration work on this painting has included removing previous restoration attempts, such as the use of an iron scraping tool and filling in areas with an oil paint mixture. Sonar and radar tests, core samples of the wall, infrared cameras, and x-rays have also been used to examine the painting.
Another instance of restoration involves the painting The Virgin of the Rocks, which is in the collection of the National Gallery in London. The conservation process for this painting involved cleaning off the layers of yellow, foggy varnish applied in a previous restoration process. This treatment took 18 months to complete.
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Salvator Mundi's exhibition history
Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the greatest and most unexpected artistic rediscoveries of the 21st century. The painting, dated c. 1499–1510, was probably executed over a period of years.
The painting was bought by British collector Francis Cook in 1900. It remained in Cook's family until 1958, when it was sold at auction for £45 as a work by Leonardo's pupil Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio. The painting was then attributed to Bernardino Luini, a follower of Leonardo, until 2011. In 2005, the painting was sold at auction again, this time for $1,175.
In 2011, the painting underwent a comprehensive restoration by Dianne Dwyer Modestini, Senior Research Fellow and Conservator of the Kress Program in Paintings Conservation at the Conservation Center of New York University. Modestini's restoration revealed that important parts of the painting were remarkably well-preserved, including both of Christ's hands, his hair, the orb, and much of his drapery.
After the restoration, the painting was exhibited at the National Gallery in London from November 2011 to February 2012, alongside The Virgin of the Rocks, another painting by Leonardo. The painting was then held at the Dallas Museum of Art for the remainder of 2012.
In 2013, the painting was sold to a private collector through Sotheby's. In 2016, it was revealed that the owner was a Russian oligarch, Dmitry Rybolovlev. The painting was then sold at Christie's in 2017 for a record-breaking price, becoming the most expensive painting ever sold.
In 2018, the painting was loaned to the Louvre in Paris and was expected to be included in the museum's large Leonardo da Vinci exhibition in 2019. However, the painting was shipped back to Saudi Arabia before the exhibition opened due to a dispute over where it would be hung. In 2021, the painting was the subject of a documentary, The Lost Leonardo, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
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The bidding war that led to its record-breaking sale
Salvator Mundi, a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, sold for a record-breaking $450 million at Christie's auction house in New York in November 2017. The bidding war lasted over 19 minutes and involved two bidders, with increments jumping from $332 million to $350 million in one bid and then from $370 million to $400 million. The winning bid surpassed the nearest competitor by $30 million.
The painting, dated c. 1499-1510, depicts Jesus Christ in Renaissance attire, making a gesture of blessing with his right hand and holding a crystal orb in his left hand, signalling his role as Salvator Mundi or 'Saviour of the World'. It is one of fewer than 20 paintings by the old master in oil and the only Da Vinci painting in private hands.
The painting's journey to becoming the most expensive painting ever sold is a fascinating tale. It was first recorded in King Charles I of England's collection and then disappeared between 1763 and 1900. It was bought at auction by British art collector Sir Francis Cook in 1900, and his family sold it in 1958 for £45. The painting was attributed to Bernardino Luini, a follower of Leonardo, until 2005 when a group of art dealers, including Alexander Parish and Robert Simon, acquired it for $10,000. They spent six years restoring and investigating the painting before declaring it to be by Leonardo himself. London's National Gallery exhibited it in 2011-2012, and it became known as the "lost Leonardo".
The painting's restoration and scholarly consensus have solidified its status as an authentic work by Leonardo da Vinci, although there are still some doubts over its authorship. The record-breaking sale of Salvator Mundi captivated the art world and sparked discussions about the authenticity and valuation of artworks.
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The controversies surrounding its attribution and display
Salvator Mundi, a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is the artist's most expensive painting. It was completed around 1500 and became the most expensive work of art ever sold when it was auctioned at Christie's, New York, on November 15, 2017, for $450.3 million.
The painting has been at the centre of several controversies, mainly surrounding its attribution to Leonardo da Vinci and its display (or lack thereof) at the Louvre. The controversies are outlined below:
Attribution
The attribution of the painting to Leonardo da Vinci is disputed. While Christie's, the auction house that sold the painting in 2017, stated that most leading scholars consider it an original work by Leonardo, this view has been contested by other specialists. Some believe that Leonardo only contributed certain elements, while others argue that the extensive restoration makes a definitive attribution impossible. The painting's poor condition and debatable attribution have been cited as reasons for its controversial status.
The painting underwent a significant restoration process, which some experts claim makes it difficult to assess its original quality. The restored painting exhibits a strongly developed sfumato technique that resembles the style of Leonardo's pupils more closely than that of the master himself. The quality of the painting has been questioned, with critics noting oddities in the depiction of Christ and the execution of certain details. The representation of the glass globe in Jesus' hand has also been criticised as unconvincing, given Leonardo's scientific knowledge.
The painting's provenance is also uncertain, with a gap in the records between 1763 and 1900. This has led to speculation that it may be the work of one of Leonardo's pupils rather than the master himself. The lack of consensus among experts and the painting's questionable history have fuelled the controversy surrounding its attribution.
Display at the Louvre
The painting was expected to be included in the 2019–2020 Leonardo exhibition at the Louvre but was notably absent, leading to speculation and controversy. The Saudi crown prince had loaned the painting to the Louvre in 2018, but it was returned to Saudi Arabia after the Saudis demanded that it be hung next to the Mona Lisa, which was impossible for security reasons. The Louvre's silence on the matter further fuelled speculation, as officials are prohibited from discussing the evaluation or authentication of privately owned works.
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Frequently asked questions
Leonardo da Vinci's most expensive painting is 'Salvator Mundi' (c. 1499–1510), which sold for a record-breaking $450 million at Christie's auction house in New York on 15 November 2017.
'Salvator Mundi' is Latin for 'Savior of the World'. The painting depicts Jesus Christ in Renaissance attire, making a gesture of blessing with his right hand and holding a crystal orb in his left hand.
The painting is extremely rare; there are fewer than 20 paintings in existence acknowledged as being from Leonardo da Vinci's own hand, and all apart from 'Salvator Mundi' are in museum collections. The painting also underwent an extensive restoration process, which helped to reveal its true beauty and further solidified its significance in the art world.
