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WASHINGTON, United States – Since being sold for a record $ 450 million, the fate of "Salvator Mundi", allegedly painted by Leonardo da Vinci, has become one of the world's greatest mysteries. art.
On Monday, London art dealer Kenny Schachter, writing for the Artnews website, gave some answers: the painting now resides on the gigantic yacht belonging to the mighty Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Since his record sale at Christie's in 2017, the painting, in which Jesus Christ is portrayed coming out of the dark and blessing the world with one hand while holding a transparent globe in the dark, is the only one in the world. other, has never been exposed in public, which has raised doubts about his property. , location and authenticity.
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Many art experts are divided on the authenticity of the painting, claiming that it was not painted by the Italian master personally but by his studio.
On October 23, 2018, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman participates in the conference on future investments in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
The Wall Street Journal first announced that the painting had been purchased by Saudi Prince Badr bin Abdullah, who acted on behalf of the Saudi Crown Prince, known by his MBS initials.
Riyadh has never confirmed or denied this report.
AFP could not corroborate Schachter's column and, recalling the opacity of international art sales, he wrote: "In the murky waters of the Middle East, nothing is entirely clear."
But, citing several sources including two involved in the sale, the painting "would have been washed away in the middle of the night in the MBS plane and transferred to his yacht, the Serene".
The Serene, a giant yacht belonging to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Nick Wells / Wikipedia / CC-Zero)
After stating that the painting had originally been found in fragments and that it had had to be rebuilt prior to its auction, he asked: "What harm could cause an occasional splash of paint? sea water?"
Schachter later wrote that the painting would remain on board the huge yacht until it was transferred to the Al-Ula governorate, which Saudi Arabia wishes transform into a cultural and tourist destination.
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