The story of the picture “Salvator Mundi” is like an exciting thriller. The Danish director Andreas Koefoed tells it in a documentary film.
Paris – The “Salvator Mundi” is the most expensive painting in the world. In 2017, the Jesus image was auctioned for $ 450 million (over 398 million euros today).
Opinions are divided as to whether Leonardo da Vinci really painted the top trophy. The documentary “The Lost Leonardo” wants to show that the work was made in the studio of the Italian master, but that da Vinci only partially contributed to it.
The story of the record picture is like a thriller about the art market and its actors. The work showing Christ as Savior of the world is dated around 1500. In the 17th century it was thought to be lost. Then it turned up in 1958 at a Sotheby’s London auction, where it changed hands as a picture of a student and successor to the Italian genius for 45 pounds (around 53 euros today).
Almost sixty years later it becomes a da Vinci work – and the most expensive painting in the world. In the meantime it has been restored and sold to a Russian billionaire. The picture has not been seen since the 2017 auction at Christie’s in New York. The buyer is said to be the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Andreas Koefoed has re-aimed at authorship in his documentary. The Danish director interviewed many of the main actors such as the restorer Dianne Modestini, the Swiss businessman and founder of the bonded warehouses in Singapore and Luxembourg, Yves Bouvier, and da Vinci specialists.
“The Lost Leonardo” is an exciting film that reveals the influence of auction houses, experts and art institutions and shows how self-interest corrupts the truth.
The Lost Leonardo, Denmark, France 2021, 100 min., FSK oA, by Andreas Koefoed, with Dianne Modestini, Alexander Parish, Yves Bouvier dpa
