The Salvatror Mundi is the most controversial painting in history, yet it shattered records when it sold for $450 million in 2017. The painting depicts Christ in a blue renaissance dress, making the sign of the cross with his right hand. It is believe that this was paitned by the hand of the master, Leonardo da Vinci. However, it is very hard to trace back to Leonardo and some believe it was painted by one of his students. The painting first turned up in an auction in New Orleans and sold for $10,000. The buyers then brought it to New York to have art historians and restorers to take a look at it. They believe it matched the style of Leonardo but could have been pained by one of his students. During the restoration, they discovered that the original artist had reconsidered the position of the figure; such a second thought is considered evidence of an original, rather than a copy, as a painting copied from the finished original would not have such an alteration partway through the painting process. This lead to many musuems and art historians acknowledging this paint was indeed painted by Leonardo. However, many still disputed this was an original Leonardo. There were imperfects with the human fingers and Leonardo studied anatomy so he wouldn’t not make this mistake. He also is considered a perfectionist and this painting, which was on wood, had a knot in the middle of it which Leonardo would know would cause breaking in the paint over time. This caused the painting to need a lot of resotration. Even the amount of restoration done, the original buyers were able to sell the painting for just over $75million to Yves Bouvier in 2013. Bouvier, then quickly sold the painting to a Russian oligarch for $127.5million. Once the Russian oligarch found out Bouvier purchased this painted for much less to sell it to him at a mark up, he demanded Bouvier sell it for him. Bouvier then auctioned the painting at Christie’s which sold on 15 November 2017 for $450,312,500. Many were shocked as this painting is only speculated to be a Leonardo and with all the restoration required over half the painting had to be repainted. The buyer tried to remain annoymous but it has been known the buyer was Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In 2019, the Louvre was hosting a Leonardo da Vinci exhibition and there were rumors that the Salvator Mundi was going to be on display for the first time. On the day of the exhibit, everyone raced to the last room but there was no Salvatore Mundi. It is rumored that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was going to loan it to the Louvre to be on display but only if the Louvre would put it next to the Mona Lisa. This would mean, not only is the Louvre recognizing it as an original Leonardo, but they are putting it on the same scale as the Mona Lisa. If the Louvre did that and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman puts it in the Red Sea Musuem in Saudi Arabia, then Saudi Arabia’s art scene and culture would sky rocket to almost the same level as the Louvre.
