Is the world's most expensive painting a true Leonardo or a heavily restored mystery?

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sold for $450.3 million in 2017, the Salvator Mundi remains the priciest artwork ever auctioned. Yet, its status as a genuine Leonardo da Vinci is fiercely debated. While some experts champion its authenticity, others argue that extensive restoration has obscured the artist's hand, leaving the masterpiece shrouded in uncertainty.

The Salvator Mundi, or Savior of the World, depicts Christ in Renaissance attire, blessing the viewer with one hand while holding a crystal orb in the other. Long dismissed as a lost copy, the painting gained global attention after its 2011 inclusion in a National Gallery exhibition. Christie’s, which facilitated the record-breaking 2017 sale, maintains that leading scholars view it as an original Leonardo. However, the attribution is far from settled. Critics point to the heavy restoration work, which some believe makes a definitive identification of Leonardo’s brushwork impossible.

Dating the work is equally contentious. Christie’s suggests a date around 1500, coinciding with Leonardo’s move from Milan to Florence. Other scholars, such as Martin Kemp and Frank Zöllner, propose later windows between 1504 and 1510, while Carlo Pedretti links the drapery studies to the 1510–1515 period. The identity of the original patron remains a historical puzzle, with theories ranging from Isabella d’Este and King Louis XII of France to Pope Leo X. The painting’s provenance is similarly fragmented, with a significant gap appearing after 1530.

The work’s current whereabouts have fueled further intrigue. Following the 2017 auction, where Prince Badr bin Abdullah Al Saud purchased the piece—reportedly as a proxy for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—the painting vanished from public view. It has not been exhibited since, and reports suggest it is currently held in storage in Saudi Arabia, awaiting the completion of a cultural center in Al-'Ula. This absence, combined with the technical debates over its authorship, ensures that the Salvator Mundi remains one of the most enigmatic objects in the history of art.

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