Leonardo da Vinci’s painting was auctioned for $450,3 million and thus became the most expensive painting in the world.
At the end of yesterday’s auction at the Christie’s New York, the painting “Salvator Mundi“, the last Leonardo’s work in a private collection, outstrips the previous record holder, Picasso’s “Women of Algier (version zero)” sold in 2015 for $179,4 million.
Oil on canvas depicts Christ who holds a crystal ball.
Salvator Mundi
The 65cm x 45cm painting estimated at at $ 100 million. Salvator Mundi was bought in 1958 for 45 pounds, much before it was undoubtedly recognized as Leonardo’s work in 2005.
The bidding started from $70 million and the price was raised 53 times to $400 million, or $450,3 with all accompanying costs. Until now, the painting was owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolov, the oligarch and owner of the football club of Monaco.
Salvator Mundi
He bought it for $ 127.5 million from the Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier, who paid $80 million for it.
Since then, Rybolov and Bouvier have been in court proceedings, and a Russian billionaire accuses Bouvier of fraud.
Salvator Mundi
