Salvator Mundi 1500

Salvator Mundi was sold for a price of £45 in 1958, only to fetch an astonishing $450.3 million in 2017 – making it the most expensive work ever auctioned. What prompted this explosion in value? At the time of its sale in 2017, the oil painting was attributed to one of the most influential Western artists ever to have lived: the Renaissance intellectual Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Renowned for paintings such as Mona Lisa and the world’s most reproduced religious painting, The Last Supper, Leonardo is celebrated for his technical advancements and accurate study of human anatomy. Prior to its restoration in 2011, however, Salvator Mundi was thought to have been completed by students of Leonardo rather than the master himself. The title of the painting translates to Saviour of the World, and depicts Christ dressed in gilded blue robes of the Renaissance fashion. As emphasised by the stark black background, the figure seems to emit a glowing golden light. He holds an orb, a common symbol in Christian art, in his left hand, and raises his right hand in blessing. This pose is a common theme in Western art, having been reproduced by artists such as Titian, Jan van Eyck, and Albrecht Dürer among countless others. Though known to have been created in the atelier (workshop) of Leonardo, the exact authorship of this painting remains contested. The artist employed numerous assistants and students, and likely worked alongside them. These apprentices were often involved in tasks such as canvas preparation, underpainting, and producing replicas. Many experts now agree that Leonardo worked on Salvator Mundi, but his level of involvement is disputed. Is it possible that Leonardo was only partly responsible for the painting of the work? How does this affect ideas of its authenticity and value? Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham