Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World), is one of only a score of Leonardo’s works still in existence and the only one held privately. The bidding opened at $75 million and ran for 19 minutes. The name of the buyer was not immediately released. The final bid was $400 million, but the sale price includes a premium paid to Christie’s.
“Salvator Mundi is a painting of the most iconic figure in the world by the most important artist of all time,” said Loic Gouzer, co-chairman of postwar and contemporary art at Christie’s was quoted by The Associated Press as saying. “The opportunity to bring this masterpiece to the market is an honor that comes around once in a lifetime.”
The 26-inch-tall painting has had an intriguing history. It dates to about 1500 and depicts a figure of Christ dressed in Renaissance-style attire, with the right hand raised in benediction and the left holding a crystal orb.
It was recorded in the collection of King Charles I of England in 1649 but was auctioned to the Duke of Buckingham in 1763. It then disappeared until 1900, over which time it was assumed to have been lost or destroyed.
When it finally resurfaced, it was damaged from restoration attempts and was purchased by British collector Sir Frederick Cook. At the time it wasn’t seen as an authentic da Vinci, but instead attributed to one of his disciples.
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