The Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo — or his workshop, depending on which expert you ask — sold at Christie's in November 2017 for $450.3 million, a record for any artwork at auction that still stands. The sale was immediately contentious: questions about the painting's condition, restoration extent, and attribution had been circulating in academic circles for years before the hammer fell.
The buyer was never officially confirmed, though reporting eventually pointed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The painting has not been publicly displayed since the sale.
The Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo — or his workshop, depending on which expert you ask — sold at Christie's in November 2017 for $450.3 million, a record for any artwork at auction that still stands. The sale was immediately contentious: questions about the painting's condition, restoration extent, and attribution had been circulating in academic circles for years before the hammer fell.
The buyer was never officially confirmed, though reporting eventually pointed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The painting has not been publicly displayed since the sale.