The Saint Sebastian of Leonardo da Vinci now too expensive for France?

The exorbitant price reached by Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi in October 2017 has changed the fate of the works of the great master still present on the art market. This is the case for "The Study for a Saint Sebastian in a landscape" now too expensive to be acquired by the Louvre.

He smashed the record for the most expensive canvas in the world. The Salvator Mundi, uA painting by Leonardo da Vinci representing Christ was auctioned more than a year ago for $ 450.3 million at auction at Christie's in New York. Since then, the master's works have exploded on the art market. Originally estimated at between 15 and 20 million euros, a Study for a Saint Sebastian, – discovered in March 2016 with an individual who did not know the importance, and since authenticated by the best experts of the painter – today would reach twice or more. Bad news for the Louvre who wanted to buy it.

Classified as a "national treasure" to cancel the sale that was scheduled for June 2017, the museum had 30 months to raise the funds needed to acquire this drawing. But the sale of Salvator Mundi, a few months later, changed the game and influenced the price of the drawing. The Tajan auction house would now like to take advantage of such a bargain. It has also decided to put on sale the drawing on June 19 for lack of a tempting offer from the Louvre and by mutual agreement. But the Louvre still has until July 25, date of the end of the period of 30 months, to try to convince the seller. In the event of an unfavorable outcome, the State may still exercise its right of pre-emption. But in view of the current art market, a low offer would now be unwelcome by the Louvre and discontent buyers ready to put much more than the reserve price. At present, the museum already has about twenty drawings of the grand master. The Saint Sebastian Will he soon complete the collection?