The "Last Da Vinci" Mysteries and the $450 Million "Salvator Mundi"

Introduction
Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi, or "Savior of the World," sold for a record-breaking $450.3 million in November 2017 at Christie's New York, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at auction. The sale not only captivated the general public, but it also sparked ferocious arguments among scholars, art historians, and collectors. Was this Leonardo da Vinci's lost masterpiece, or was it a work that was overhyped and lacked authenticity?

Since then, the Salvator Mundi has vanished from view, adding more mystery to its already contentious past. The painting's rise to fame at a record-breaking auction, its disputed attribution, and its current whereabouts are all the subject of this article. The Search for the "Last da Vinci" Salvator Mundi was regarded as lost or destroyed for centuries. Christ is depicted in the painting as the "Savior of the World," raising his right hand to bless while holding a crystal orb in his left hand. It was painted by Leonardo for King Louis XII of France around 1500, according to historical records, but by the 17th century, it was not recorded in public records. The contemporary Salvator Mundi story began in 2005, when a group of art dealers paid just $1,175 for a badly damaged painting at an estate sale in Louisiana. Experts suspected that the work was a lost Leonardo despite being overpainted, cracked, and covered in varnish. Dianne Dwyer Modestini at New York University spent six years meticulously restoring the painting before unveiling it in 2011 as a genuine Leonardo da Vinci. Leading academics, including those from the National Gallery in London, where it was featured in a major Leonardo exhibition, supported the attribution. The Debate About Authenticity In spite of the initial exhilaration, doubts soon surfaced. Some art historians questioned whether Leonardo actually painted the whole thing, suggesting that his assistants might have painted significant portions. The object in Christ's hand lacked the optical distortion that Leonardo, a master of light and refraction, would have realistically rendered, critics argued. Some people argued that Leonardo's face and hair were too soft in comparison to his other works. Some well-known skeptics include: The Last Leonardo's author, Ben Lewis, argued that the painting's authenticity was inflated for financial gain. It was described as "at best" by New York Magazine art critic Jerry Saltz. Expert on Leonardo, Jacques Franck, who asserted that Leonardo's studio performed the majority of the work. The painting's supporters, on the other hand, maintained that Leonardo's delicate sfumato technique and subtle modeling of light were unmistakably his. The painting's mystique is fueled by the debate's ongoing ambiguity. The Buyer's Identity and the Record-Breaking Auction When Salvator Mundi went up for auction in 2017, there were high hopes, but no one knew what it would sell for. The hammer fell at $450.3 million (including fees) after a frantic 19 minutes of bidding, breaking the previous record held by Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger ($179.4 million in 2015). Later, it was discovered that the buyer was Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, a relatively unknown Saudi prince who acted as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) proxy. Most people thought that the purchase was a smart move to increase Saudi Arabia's cultural influence before new museums opened in the kingdom. The extinction of the "Salvator Mundi" The painting was scheduled to be displayed at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2018 following the sale, but its unveiling was abruptly postponed. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and France resulted from reports that the Louvre in Paris had refused to display it as a fully authenticated Leonardo. Salvator Mundi has vanished ever since. There have been rumors about its location: It may be stored in a Swiss freeport, according to some. Others assert that it is on the Serene, MBS's yacht. It was once joked that it was hidden "under my bed" by a Saudi minister. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2019 that the painting might be aboard the Saviz, an Iranian-linked cargo ship docked in the Red Sea—possibly as collateral in a secret deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran—which was the most shocking theory. Why persists the mystery? The saga of Salvator Mundi asks important questions about power, money, and art: Art as an Asset: Highly affluent buyers consider works of art to be investments rather than cultural treasures. Versus authentication Hype: When certifying the painting, did commercial interests take precedence over academic caution? Geopolitical Symbolism: The painting's connection to MBS indicates that it is connected to Saudi Arabia's global goals. The debate regarding the painting's authenticity and future will continue until it resurfaces. Conclusion: The Last Art World Scandal or the Last Da Vinci? More than just a painting, The Salvator Mundi is a symbol of the excesses of the contemporary art market, where masterpieces serve as bargaining chips for the extremely wealthy. Its story reflects the intersection of art, money, and power in the 21st century, regardless of whether it is a genuine Leonardo or a brilliantly marketed enigma.