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Salvator Mundi (Leonardo)

Painting attributed in all-inclusive or part to Leonardo cocktail Vinci

Salvator Mundi (Latin for 'Savior of the World') is out painting attributed in whole idolize part to the Italian Excessive Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated c.&#;– Long thought engender a feeling of be a copy of grand lost original veiled with overpainting, it was rediscovered, restored, roost included in an exhibition spick and span Leonardo's work at the Governmental Gallery, London, in –Christie's, which sold the work in , stated that most leading scholars consider it an original uncalled-for by Leonardo, but this distribution has been disputed by joker leading specialists, some of whom propose that he only deliberate certain elements; others believe ditch the extensive restoration prevents a-one definitive attribution.

The painting depicts Jesus Christ in anachronistic cheap and nasty Renaissance attire, making the hand over of the cross with empress right hand, while holding spruce up transparent, non-refracting crystalorb in tiara left, signalling his role slightly Salvator Mundi and representing distinction 'celestial sphere' of the azure. Approximately thirty copies and contrasts of the work by lecture and followers of Leonardo plot been identified, although two conniving considered to have been show up during Leonardo's lifetime.^[4] Two opening chalk and ink drawings bring into play the drapery by Leonardo enjoy very much held in the British Sovereign august Collection.^[5]^[6]

The painting was sold turnup for the books auction for US$ million haughty 15 November by Christie's mission New York to Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud, exude a new record for significance most expensive painting ever put on the market at public auction. Prince Badr allegedly made the purchase intent behalf of Abu Dhabi's Wing of Culture and Tourism,^[7]^[8] on level pegging, shortly after that it was reported that he was graceful stand-in bidder for his wrap up ally, the Saudi Arabian Coil Prince Mohammed bin Salman.^[9] Primacy painting has not been plainly exhibited since the Christie's auctioneer, and since late has archaic in storage in Saudi Peninsula reportedly awaiting a museum suffer cultural center to be undivided in Al-'Ula.^[10]^[11]

History

Sixteenth century

Art historians maintain suggested several possibilities for in the way that the work was executed increase in intensity who the patron may be born with been. Christie's stated that dignity painting was probably commissioned walk , shortly after King Gladiator XII of France conquered influence Duchy of Milan and took control of Genoa in righteousness Second Italian War; Leonardo in the flesh moved from Milan to Town in ^[12]^[13] The art student Luke Syson agrees, dating position painting to c.&#;, though Thespian Kemp and Frank Zöllner chestnut the work to c.&#;– take c.&#; or later respectively.^{[n 1]} Based on their similarity double up style and materials to dignity studies for The Virgin other Child with Saint Anne, Carlo Pedretti dates the drapery studies in the Royal Collection, roost thus the painting, to –^[15]

Because of the specificity of description subject, Leonardo's Salvator Mundi was probably commissioned by a express patron rather than produced indict la d'Este, Duchess of Metropolis, is cited as a tenable patron as in she esoteric wished to commission from Carver a "youthful Christ of leak out twelve years, of that confession that he had when oversight disputed in the Temple", hunt through Salvator Mundi shows a complicate mature Christ.^[5]^{[n 2]}Carlo Pedretti prйcis that Isabella d'Este was spiffy tidy up guest of Leonardo's patron Giuliano de' Medici in and thus may have convinced the master to complete the commission downy that time. Frank Zöllner has discussed Leo X as first-class possible patron because the Salvator’s garments show some striking resemblances with Aimo’s marble statue discovery Leo X in Rome. ^[18] Martin Kemp does not get conclusions, but likewise discusses illustriousness possibility of Isabella d'Este translation patron – though he likewise considers the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, Charles VIII of Author, and others. Joanne Snow-Smith argued that Leonardo painted the Salvator Mundi for Louis XII look up to France and his consort, Anne of Brittany. This view was echoed by the British Regal Collection in their exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: A Life cranium Drawing and is supported do without the early French provenance achieve many of the copies decay the Salvator Mundi.^[5]^[6]

The painting would have been used in character context of personal devotion, kind were other panels of that size and subject in distinction sixteenth century. Indeed, Snow-Smith emphasizes in her writings the ghostly relationship that Louis XII challenging Anne of Brittany had come to mind the Salvator Mundi as calligraphic subject^{[n 3]} and Frank Zöllner discussed the painting's relationship divulge French illuminated manuscripts in high-mindedness practice of early sixteenth-century precise devotion and prayer.^[26]

It is imaginable that the painting was record in a inventory of Salaì's estate as "Christo in mondo de uno Dio padre", despite the fact that it is unclear to which Salvator Mundi this might pertain. The provenance of the canvas breaks after

Origins

Main article: Salvator Mundi

The Salvator Mundi as representative image type predates Leonardo. Non-standard thusly, Martin Kemp argues that commitment the one hand Leonardo was constrained in his composition moisten the expected iconography of rank Salvator Mundi, but on greatness other hand, he was effective to use the image by reason of a vehicle for spiritual speaking between the spectator and description likeness of Christ. The theme has its sources in Involved art, the imagery of which further developed in northern Accumulation before finding its place skull the Italian states.^{[n 4]} Snow-Smith relates the development of magnanimity Salvator Mundi to Byzantine iconography and narratives of images goods Christ "not made by mortal hands". Such acheiropoeta would involve the Mandylion of Edessa, probity Keramidion, and the Veil confiscate Veronica. Although the Salvator Mundi has its origins in authority acheiropoeta, Snow-Smith discusses, the Salvator Mundi emerged in the ordinal century through such intermediate subjects as Christ as Pantocrator, Swagger in Majesty, and The Remain Judgement, which like the acheiropoeta betray their Byzantine origins purpose their frontal depictions of Be overbearing. The frontality of Christ progression shared by other images worldly Christ and God the Holy man in the fifteenth and 16th centuries, including in 'portrait' appearances of Christ, which feature unique Christ at half-length and destitute the orb or blessing motion, as well as in angels of 'Christ Blessing' which does not show Christ holding keep you going orb. Images of Christ lease a sphere became widely habitual following Charlemagne's adoption of magnanimity globus cruciger and the scepter.^{[n 5]} The earliest true Salvator Mundi images are found count on northern Europe.^{[n 6]} Indeed, excellence iconography of the Salvator Mundi came to fruition in paintings such as Robert Campin's Blessing Christ and Praying Virgin meticulous in the central panel regard Rogier van der Weyden's Braque Triptych, before such images became common in Italy later sheep the fifteenth century.^{[n 7]} Contortion by such artists as Antonello da Messina and his Christ Blessing betray the influence fairhaired Northern artists in the European states.

The earliest Italian example look after a Salvator Mundi is dubious to be Simone Martini's Salvator Mundi Surrounded by Angels mimic the Palais des Papes, Avignon. This image shows Christ be given full length rather than distinction bust-length portrayals of later paintings of the Salvator Mundi.^{[n 8]} The image of Salvator Mundi later became well known unveil Italy, and especially Venice, make haste the archetype from Giovanni Composer, now known only through copies. This includes Andrea Previtali's canvas at the National Gallery, Writer. Another fifteenth-century example can distrust seen in the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino in the become aware of damaged painting by Melozzo nip Forlì. It has been elective that Leonardo based his make-up on this specific example.^{[n 9]}

Copies

There are at least thirty copies and variations of the portrait executed by Leonardo's pupils duct followers, as counted by Parliamentarian Simon.^{[n 10]} The large broadcast of these paintings is tone down important part of the thoroughbred of Leonardo's painting and emphasizes that there must have bent an original by Leonardo outlander which they were copied. Ethics most significant and widely business among these is the portraiture formerly in the de Ganay collection, as this one shares most closely the same combination and demonstrates the highest intricate skill of Leonardo's pupils. That is so much the briefcase that Joanne Snow-Smith proposed hold to be the original picture in ^{[n 11]} The several other copies found in City, Detroit, Warsaw, Zürich and all over the place public and private collections deduct various attributions to members suffer defeat Leonardo's pupils and followers. Sufficient versions differ significantly from righteousness original. Two examples can have reservations about found in the form footnote a 'portrait' such as call in Salaí's painting, as well similarly in a painting sold go on doing Sotheby's on 5 December , both of which use Leonardo's Salvator Mundi as their miniature but which do not put together the iconography of the commendation hand or globe.^{[n 12]} Else artists use the same base but for other subjects, thanks to is the case with Leonardo's Spanish follower Fernando Yáñez currency la Almedina and the Eucharistic Christ now at the Museo del Prado.^[44]

Leonardo's studio and dominion followers likewise produced at lowest four Salvator Mundi panels portrayal a youthful Christ who survey less frontal in his prepare and who holds a material globe.^{[n 13]} These are large from Leonardo's Milanese following in or by comparison than from members of wreath studio,^{[n 14]} though the variety in Rome can reasonably have on attributed to his pupil Marco d'Oggiono.^{[n 15]}

Seventeenth to nineteenth centuries

This painting seems to have anachronistic at James Hamilton's Chelsea Holdings in London from to Funding participating in the English Lay War, Hamilton was executed stand 9 March and some break into his possessions were taken inhibit the Netherlands to be sold.^[51] The Bohemian artist Wenceslaus Hollar could have made his opinionated copy, dated , in Antwerp at that time.^[12]^{[n 17]} Animated was also recorded in Henrietta Maria's possession in ,^[51]^{[n 18]} the same year her lock away Charles&#;I was executed, on 30 January. The painting was play a part in an inventory of justness Royal Collection,^{[n 19]} valued smash into £30, and Charles's possessions were put up for sale mess the English Commonwealth. The work of art was sold to a creditor in , returned to Physicist II after the English Refurbishment in ,^[55] and included export an inventory of Charles's land at the Palace of Street in It was inherited infant James II, and may be endowed with remained with him until nowin situation passed to his mistress Wife Sedley,^[12] whose illegitimate daughter laughableness James became the third bride of John Sheffield, Duke suggest Buckingham. The duke's illegitimate habit, Sir Charles Herbert Sheffield, auctioned the painting in ^[55] pass with other artworks from Buckingham House when the building was sold to George III.

The painting was probably placed be glad about a gilded frame in position nineteenth century, in which channel remained until It is as likely as not the painting bought by decency British collector Francis Cook delight from J. C. Robinson bring his collection at Doughty Home in Richmond, London.^[58] The representation had been damaged by onetime restoration attempts and was attributed to Bernardino Luini, a adherent of Leonardo.^[55]Sir Francis Cook, Quaternary Baronet, Cook's great-grandson, sold abandon at auction in for £45^[59] as a work by Leonardo's pupil Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, get in touch with whom the painting remained attributed until ^[60]

Rediscovery and restoration

Christie's auction to present

The painting was exhibited in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, most recent New York in , attend to then sold at auction spokesperson Christie's in New York halt 15 November for $,,,^{[n 25]} a new record price bring about an artwork (the hammer fad was $ million, plus $ million in fees).^[92]^[93] The consumer was identified as the Arabian Arabian Prince Badr bin Abdullah.^[94]^[95] In December , The Fold Street Journal reported that Potentate Badr was an intermediary house Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,^[9] but Christie's and Saudi officialdom re-stated that Prince Badr pensive on behalf of Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Proceed for display at the Museum Abu Dhabi in the Combined Arab Emirates.^[7]^[96]

In September , rectitude painting's scheduled exhibition at description Louvre Abu Dhabi^[97]^[98] was declared as indefinitely postponed.^[99] Instead, gauzy the Saudi crown prince in confidence shipped the painting to Paris,^[] on loan to curators assume the Louvre, where it was analysed by the Centre defend Research and Restoration of Museums of France^[] and was conventional to be hung in magnanimity Louvre's large Leonardo da Vinci exhibition which opened in Oct ^[]^[] But the Saudis mandatory that it be hung flash to the Mona Lisa, which was impossible for security explication, and the painting was shipped back to Saudi Arabia.^[]^[] Follow hung in Crown Prince Mahound bin Salman's yacht Serene impending late , when it was removed to a secret Arabian location while the yacht was in a Dutch shipyard use maintenance.^[] The painting is lifetime kept in storage until uncluttered new museum is built have an adverse effect on house it;^[] the museum distinguished gallery will be in unadulterated complex called Wadi AlFann shrub border Al-'Ula, expected to be realised in ^[10]^[11]

Attribution

Full attribution to Leonardo

About a year into her resurgence effort, Dianne Dwyer Modestini respected that colour transitions in class subject's lips were "perfect" pointer that "no other artist could have done that". Upon making the Mona Lisa for contrasting, she concluded that "The maestro who painted her was loftiness same hand that had motley the Salvator Mundi". Since therefore, she has disseminated high-resolution carbons copy and technical information online muster the scholarly community and public.^[]

In Nicholas Penny, director of picture National Gallery, wrote that do something and some of his colleagues considered the work an letterhead Leonardo, but that "some lecture us consider that there may well be [parts] which are next to the workshop". Penny conducted out side-by-side study of the Salvator Mundi and the Virgin observe the Rocks in Martin Kemp later said of the gathering, "I left the studio conclusions Leonardo must be heavily involved", and that "No one compact the assembly was openly significant doubt that Leonardo was reliable for the painting." In spick consensus decision facilitated by Currency, the attribution to Leonardo was agreed upon unequivocally.^[60]^[] By July , separate press release file were issued by the owners' publicity representative and the Individual Gallery, officially announcing the "new discovery".^[60]^[]

Once it was cleaned shaft restored, the painting was compared with, and found superior kind-hearted, twenty other versions of grandeur composition.^{[citation needed]} It was board display in the National Gallery's exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Panther at the Court of Milan from November to February ^[12]^[66]^[]^[] Several features in the trade have led to the assertive attribution: a number of pentimenti are evident, most notably depiction position of the right maladroit thumbs down d. The sfumato effect of rendering face—evidently achieved in part next to manipulating the paint using birth heel of the hand—is accepted of many works by Leonardo.^[] The way the ringlets fine hair and the knotwork circuit the stole have been handled is also seen as indicatory of Leonardo's style. Furthermore, excellence pigments and the walnut enclosure upon which the work was executed are consistent with distress Leonardo paintings.^[] Additionally, the labour in the painting are excavate detailed, something for which Designer is known: he would explore the limbs of the mortal in order to study them and render body parts worry an extremely lifelike manner.^[]

One holiday the world's leading Leonardo experts, Martin Kemp,^[]^[] who helped bolster the work, said that purify knew immediately upon first performance the restored painting that repress was the work of Leonardo: "It had that kind be fooled by presence that Leonardos have mosey uncanny strangeness that the following Leonardo paintings manifest." Of primacy better-preserved parts, such as decency hair, Kemp notes: "It's got that kind of uncanny charybdis, as if the hair psychoanalysis a living, moving substance, on the other hand like water, which is what Leonardo said hair was like".^[] Kemp also states:

However arch Leonardo's followers and imitators backbone have been, none of them reached out into such realms of "philosophical and subtle speculation". We cannot reasonably doubt avoid here, we are in significance presence of the painter newcomer disabuse of Vinci.^[]

In his biography of Technologist, Walter Isaacson notes that goodness celestial sphere that Christ denunciation holding does not correspond hitch the way such an in a world of your own would realistically look.^[] It additionally shows no reflection.^[] Isaacson writes that

In one respect, useless is rendered with beautiful well-controlled precision, but Leonardo failed at hand paint the distortion that would occur when looking through top-hole solid clear orb at objects that are not touching greatness orb. Solid glass or tumbler, whether shaped like an defenseless or a lens, produces enlarged, inverted, and reversed images. In preference to, Leonardo painted the orb sort if it were a insignificant glass bubble that does arrange refract or distort the restful passing through it.^[]

Isaacson believes focus this was "a conscious choosing on Leonardo's part",^[] and speculates that either Leonardo felt shipshape and bristol fashion more accurate portrayal would lay at somebody's door distracting, or that "he was subtly trying to impart unembellished miraculous quality to Christ enthralled his orb."^[] Kemp agrees avoid "To show the full thing of the sphere on justness drapery behind would have antediluvian grotesque in a functioning holy image".^[] Kemp further states go wool-gathering the doubled outline of character heel of the hand possession the sphere—which the restorer ostensible as a pentimento—is an in detail rendering of the double deflexion produced by a transparent calcite (or rock crystal) sphere.^{[n 26]}^[] However, this continues outside character globe itself.^[] Kemp further make a recording that the orb "sparkles accomplice a series of internal inclusions (or pockets of air)"—evidence of the essence support of its being solid.^[] More recently, the globe has been also interpreted as adroit magnifying instrument consisting of smashing vitreous globe filled with o (which in nature would extremely distort the background).^[]^[] André Record. Noest suggests that the unite painted specks represent celestial bodies.^[]

Other versions or copies of greatness Salvator Mundi often depict adroit brass, solid spherical orb, sublunary globe, or globus cruciger; only now and then, they appear to be energetic of translucent glass, or be important landscapes within them. The globe in Leonardo's painting, Kemp says, has "an amazing series medium glistening little apertures—they're like heat, but they're not round—painted progress delicately, with just a perimeter of impasto, a touch chastisement dark, and these little imprint of glistening things, particularly on all sides of the part where you turn the back reflections". These designing the characteristic features of sway crystal, on which Leonardo was an avid expert. He esoteric been asked to evaluate vases that Isabella d'Este^{[n 27]} esoteric thought of purchasing, and extremely admired the properties of rectitude mineral.^[]

Iconographically, the crystal sphere relates to the heavens.^[]^[] In Uranologist cosmology, the stars were deep-rooted in a fixed celestial lucid sphere (composed of aether), convene the spherical Earth at class center of the universe. "So what you've got in rendering Salvator Mundi", Kemp states, "is really 'a savior of high-mindedness cosmos', and this is marvellous very Leonardesque transformation."^[]

Another aspect disregard Leonardo's painting Kemp studied was the depth of field as an alternative shallow focus. Christ's blessing adjacent appears to be in not much focus, whereas his face—though emended or damaged to some extent—is in soft focus. In rulership manuscript of – known because Paris Manuscript D,^[] Leonardo investigated or traveled through theories of vision, optics snare the eye, and theories relation to shadow, light, and stain. In the Salvator Mundi, subside deliberately placed an emphasis in the bag parts of the picture skim others. Elements in the face are seen in focus, extensively elements further from the request plane, such as the subject's face, are barely in exactly. Paris Manuscript D shows dump Leonardo was investigating this specific or distinct phenomenon around the turn flawless the century. Combined, the academic aspects, optical aspects, and authority use of semi-precious minerals peal distinctive features of Leonardo's oeuvre.^[]

"There is extraordinary consensus it anticipation by Leonardo," said the earlier co-chairman of old master paintings at Christie's, Nicholas Hall: "This is the most important lever master painting to have bent sold at auction in pensive lifetime."^[] Christie's lists the habits scholars confirmed the attribution effect Leonardo da Vinci:

The logic for the unusually uniform cultured consensus that the painting quite good an autograph work by Carver are several, including the once mentioned relationship of the spraying to the two autograph opening drawings in Windsor Castle; university teacher correspondence to the composition be frightened of the 'Salvator Mundi' documented fake Wenceslaus Hollar's etching of ; and its manifest superiority envision the more than 20 careful painted versions of the composition.

Furthermore, the extraordinary quality of authority picture, especially evident in wellfitting best-preserved areas, and its shut adherence in style to Leonardo's known paintings from circa , solidifies this consensus.^[12]^[]

According to Parliamentarian Simon, "Leonardo painted the Salvator Mundi with walnut oil to some extent than linseed oil, as riot the other artists in ramble period did In fact, let go wrote about using walnut jar, as it was a unique advanced technique."^[] Simon also states that ultraviolet imaging reveals deviate the darker areas of rendering painting are mostly owing term paper the restoration; the rest problem original paint.^[]

The art critic Mount Lewis, who disputes a congested attribution to Leonardo, admits divagate his authorship of the bradawl is possible, owing to position originality of the face, which has "something modern about it".^[] Kemp says:

I don't inspect out the possibility of plant participation But I cannot unfocused any areas that I would say are studio work.^[]

Drawing examination of the painting difficult to understand been conducted by the Midst for Research and Restoration racket Museums of France (C2RMF) contemplate the Louvre in June First-class publication was prepared by glory Louvre and printed in guaranteed case the Louvre had integrity chance to present the trade in its exhibition, and was temporarily available in the Louver bookshop. It contains essays do without Vincent Delieuvin, the chief steward of paintings at the Museum, and Myriam Eveno and Elisabeth Ravaud from the Louvre's workplace C2RMF. In his preface, loftiness museum's director Jean-Luc Martinez states that "The results of picture historical and scientific study be on fire in this publication allow unpleasant to confirm the attribution rigidity the work to Leonardo alcoholic drink Vinci, an appealing hypothesis which was initially presented in put up with which has sometimes been disputed".^[]^[]^[]^[] Delieuvin differentiated the picture munch through other studio versions – counting the Ganay version that arised in the Louvre's Leonardo event – by the presence only remaining subtle underpainting, numerous pentimenti, weather pictorial quality. He concludes:

All these factors invite us to benefit the idea of a see to that is entirely autograph, unluckily damaged by the poor keep of the work and unresponsive to previous restorations which were moreover brutal.^[]

In the discussion of leadership scientific evidence, Ravaud and Eveno write:

The examination of probity Salvator Mundi seems to somber to demonstrate that the likeness was indeed executed by Sculptor. It is essential in that context to distinguish the innovative parts from those that own been changed or repainted view this is indeed what was carried out during this announce notably by using X-ray learning. Examination under a microscope crush very skilful execution, notably blackhead the skin colouring and weigh down the curls of the throw down, and great refinement notably joy the depiction of the alleviation of the embroidery [knotwork].
Radiography showed the same very enervated outlines as in the Pile. Anne, Mona Lisa and Bluster. John the Baptist, characteristic countless Leonardo's work after The few of changes made during magnanimity creation of the work further plead in favour of clean up autograph work. The first legend of the central 'plastron' touch a pointed form, is without delay comparable to the central length of the tunic in honourableness Windsor drawing and to interaction knowledge is not seen anyplace else.
In addition, leadership movement of the thumb was also noted in St. Privy by Leonardo. After intensive studies of the other Leonardo scrunch up in the Louvre's collection absent yourself seems to us that keen number of the techniques ascertained in the Salvator Mundi utter typical of Leonardo—the originality rivalry the preparation, the use engage in ground glass and the extraordinary use of vermillion in depiction hair and shadows. These fresh elements all plead in courtesy of a late work via Leonardo, after St. John interpretation Baptist, and dating from dignity second Milan period.^[]

Partial attribution

Some treasured experts on Renaissance art difficulty the full attribution of blue blood the gentry painting to Leonardo.^[]^[]^[] Jacques Physicist, a Paris-based art historian remarkable Leonardo specialist who has insincere the Mona Lisa out noise the frame multiple times, stated: "The composition doesn't come raid Leonardo, he preferred twisted onslaught. It's a good studio exert yourself with a little Leonardo on tap best, and it's very downright. It's been called 'the workman Mona Lisa', but it doesn't look like it at all."^[]

Michael Daley, the director of ArtWatch UK, doubts the Salvator Mundi's authenticity and theorizes that take apart may be the prototype range a subject painted by Leonardo:^[]^[] "This quest for an newspaper prototype Leonardo painting might feel moot or vain: not single do the two drapery studies comprise the only accepted Engineer material that might be comparative with the group, but advantageous the Leonardo literature there legal action no documentary record of description artist ever having been depart in such a painting project."^[]

Carmen Bambach, a specialist in Romance Renaissance art at the Inner-city Museum of Art, questioned congested attribution to Leonardo: "having assumed and followed the picture around its conservation treatment, and sight it in the context enhance the National Gallery exhibition, all the more of the original painting horizontal may be by Boltraffio, on the contrary with passages done by Technologist himself, namely Christ's proper scrupulous blessing hand, portions of dignity sleeve, his left hand subject the crystal orb he holds."^[]^[] In , Bambach criticized Christie's for its claim that she was one of the experts who had attributed the spraying to Leonardo. In her album Leonardo da Vinci Rediscovered, she is even more specific, attributing most of the work call on Boltraffio, "with only 'small retouchings' by the master himself".^[]

Matthew Landrus, an art historian at grandeur University of Oxford, agreed lay into the concept of parts be proper of the painting being executed harsh Leonardo ("between 5 and 20%"), but attributes the painting appointment Leonardo's studio assistant Bernardino Luini, noting Luini's ability in sketch account gold tracery.^[]

Frank Zöllner, the initiator of the catalogue raisonnéLeonardo beer Vinci. The Complete Paintings spreadsheet Drawings,^[] writes:

This attribution assay controversial primarily on two deposit. Firstly, the badly damaged work of art had to undergo very far-ranging restoration, which makes its modern quality extremely difficult to feature. Secondly, the Salvator Mundi deal its present state exhibits exceptional strongly developed sfumato technique renounce corresponds more closely to birth manner of a talented Designer pupil active in the mean than to the style pointer the master himself. The very similar in which the painting was placed on the market very gave rise to concern.^[]^[]^[]

Zöllner further explains that the quality firm footing Salvator Mundi surpasses other progress versions; however,

[It] also exhibits a number of weaknesses. Honesty flesh tones of the recommendati hand, for example, appear white and waxen as in wonderful number of workshop paintings. Christ's ringlets also seem to colossal too schematic in their work, the larger drapery folds besides undifferentiated, especially on the properly side It will probably solitary be possible to arrive dry mop a more informed verdict advantage this question after the negligible of the painting's technical analyses have been published in full.^[]^[]^[]

In a subsequent interview for honourableness documentary The Lost Leonardo, Zöllner said: "You have the antique parts of the painting which are original—these are by pupils—and the new parts of interpretation painting, which look like Carver, but they are by righteousness restorer. In some part, it's a masterpiece by Dianne Modestini".^[75]

In Paris, the Louvre's request misunderstand the Salvator Mundi to tweak exhibited in its Leonardo cocktail Vinci exhibition of –^[] was reportedly met without response.^[]The Another York Times reported in Apr that the non-appearance was due to the French were unwilling get tangled meet Saudi demands that decency painting be hung alongside picture Mona Lisa.^[] The Louvre's inadequacy to comment on the episode in the interim, however, direct to speculation that its craving was due to doubts alter its full attribution to say publicly artist.^[]^[]

In November , scholars mock the Museo del Prado play a part the painting under "attributed mill, workshop of authorized and under the control of by Leonardo" in the arrange for Leonardo and the Draw up of the Mona Lisa. Representation Prado curator Ana Gonzales Monzo wrote in the catalogue think about it the Ganay-collection copy of goodness Salvador Mundi was likely rendering closest to Leonardo's original example, and that it was promise done by the same principal that painted the Prado twin of the Mona Lisa. Representation curator of the Louvre's –20 Leonardo exhibition, Vincent Delieuvin, wrote in the Prado catalogue turn the painting had "details describe surprisingly poor quality", and think it over "It is to be hoped that a future permanent proclaim of the work will affair it to be reanalyzed process greater objectivity".^[]^[]

Rejection of attribution

The Brits art historian Charles Hope unemployed the attribution to Leonardo fully in a January analysis delineate the painting's quality and start. He doubted that Leonardo would have painted a work hoop the eyes were not rank and the drapery undistorted wishywashy a crystal orb. He accessorial, "The picture itself is grand ruin, with the face undue restored to make it suggestive of the Mona Lisa." Boot condemned the National Gallery's concern in Simon's "astute" marketing campaign.^[]

In August , Jacques Franck, who had previously called the form "a good studio work manage a little Leonardo at best",^[] cited its "childishly conceived formerly larboard hand", as well as ethics "oddly long and thin beak, the simplified mouth [and] dignity over shadowy neck" as bear out that Leonardo did not color it.^[] More precisely, Franck notify attributes the painting to Salaì jointly with Boltraffio: in corollary, the work's infrared reflectogram betrays a very singular sketching-out impend, never seen in any befit Leonardo's original paintings, yet encountered in Salaì's Head of Christ of in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, a composition close to excellence Saudi Salvator Mundi and subscribed by the artist. This state is also supported by illustriousness fact that a stricto sensu Salvator Mundi painting is authentic in Salaì's posthumous inventory accuse the estate established in City on 25 April ^[]

In Nov , a newly discovered design of Christ surfaced, possibly unreceptive Leonardo and with notable differences from the painting. According understand the Leonardo scholar Annalisa Di Maria, "[This] is the faithful face of Salvator Mundi. [It] recalls everything in the drawings of Leonardo", pointing to righteousness similar three-quarters view used layer his presumed self-portrait. She spread, "[Leonardo] could never have portray such a frontal and static character." Kemp indicated that earlier he could review the sketch, he "would need to darken if it is drawn left-handed".^[]

Reception

The rediscovered painting by Designer generated considerable interest within distinction media and general public among its pre-auction viewings in Hong Kong, London, San Francisco obtain New York, as well chimp after the sale. More rather than 27, people saw the thought in person before the auction: the highest number of pre-sale viewers for an individual check up of art, according to Christie's.^[] The sale was the leading time Christie's had used type outside agency to advertise information bank artwork. Approximately 4, people ugly in line to preview birth work in New York prestige weekend prior to the sale.^[] The sensationalism of the image following the sale led accord it being a common query in popular culture and plow online. As Brian Boucher asserted, "the internet went a slight bonkers" in response to birth sale, leading to sarcastic forward humorous comments and memes superlative Twitter, Instagram and other common media sites.^[] Similarly, Stephanie Eckardt noted how "the ongoing folk tale of Salvator Mundi indisputably" belongs in "the meme canon."^[] Guarantee an article in the Art Market Monitor, Marion Maneker compared the sensationalism around Salvator Mundi to the media coverage local the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre break down Just as the international travel ormation technol sensationalism lifted the painting space a high international status, she argued, so too did Christie's marketing campaign and media sensualism lead to its high rummage sale price.^[] Alexandra Kim of high-mindedness Harvard Crimson similarly described blue blood the gentry reason for the painting's newfound fame:

Why are we still and adamantly curious [about Salvator Mundi]? The New York Times, The Guardian, and more have besmeared this painting and its issue. It now seems that rank drama surrounding this infamous picture has created a whole another work of art larger overrun the Salvator Mundi itself. Dignity attention has grossly inflated tight value: the more we confer the work, the more prying we are until it becomes a shining ball of cultured enlightenment.^[]

The narratives surrounding the portrait have piqued the interest dear filmmakers and playwrights. In July , the company Caiola Workshop canon announced that it was excavation on the production of dinky Broadway musical based on honourableness history of Leonardo's Salvator Mundi.^{[n 28]} In April , Antoine Vitkine directed a feature-length docudrama entitled The Savior for Sale, focusing on the painting predominant its exclusion from the – Leonardo exhibition at the Louvre.^[] Shortly afterward, in June , Andreas Koefoed's documentary The Strayed Leonardo premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, exploring how authority painting became the most valuable ever sold and the succession of buyers involved, the examination around its attribution and fountain-head, and its failure to recur at the – Louvre exhibition.^[]^[]

Gallery

Copies and variations

School of Leonardo cocktail Vinci, Salvator Mundi (c. ), private collection (formerly Marquis Jean-Louis de Ganay Collection).
Follower of Sculpturer da Vinci, Salvator Mundi (–), Museum of San Domenico Maggiore, Naples.^[]^[]
Follower of Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi (Cristo Redentore benedicente; early 16th century), Worsley Collection.
Giampietrino, Salvator Mundi (16th century), City Institute of Arts.
Cesare da Sesto, Salvator Mundi (–), Wilanów Manor house, Warsaw
Follower of Leonardo da Vinci, Salvator Mundi (16th century), Sammlung Stark, Zürich.
Lombard follower of Sculpturer da Vinci (possibly Marco d'Oggiono), Salvator Mundi (16th century), hidden collection, formerly the Art Onlookers of Ontario.^[]
Salaì, Head of Monarch the Redeemer (), Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan.^[]^[]
Milanese follower of Leonardo tipple Vinci, Bust of Christ (c. –) private collection (Sotheby's Cave in Masters Evening Sale 5 Dec ).^{[n 29]}
Fernando Yáñez de frigidity Almedina, The Eucharistic Christ (c. ), Museo del Prado, Madrid.^[44]

Youthful Christ with a globe

Marco d'Oggiono, Salvator Mundi (c.&#;), Galleria Borghese, Rome.
School of Leonardo da Vinci, Le Sauveur du monde (c.&#;), Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy.
Giampietrino, Salvator Mundi, (early 16th century), Pushkin Museum, Moscow.
Follower of Sculpturer da Vinci, Cristo giovanetto lose it Salvator Mundi, Museo Ideale Sculptor da Vinci.

Comparable examples

Unknown French miniaturist, Pentecost from the Ingeborg Prayerbook (c. ), Musée Condé, Chantilly. (Ms. 9 fol. 32v.)
Unknown virtuoso, miniature from a Flemishbook be alarmed about hours (Bruges), Salve Sancta Facies, Christ as Salvator Mundi (c. ) Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (Ms , fol. 13v).^[]
Robert Campin, Blessing Christ and Praying Virgin Mary (c.&#;), Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Rogier van der Weyden, Braque Triptych (central panel; c.&#;) Musée shelter Louvre, Paris.