Salvator Mundi

Leonardo da Vinci created this devotional portrait of Christ around 1500, depicting Jesus in Renaissance blue robes with his right hand raised in blessing. In his left hand, he holds a transparent crystal orb representing the celestial sphere. Leonardo rendered this orb with sophisticated optical accuracy, showing subtle reflections within the glass. The painting uses his signature sfumato technique, creating soft gradations between light and shadow in Christ's face and curly hair.

The work vanished for centuries after leaving the English royal collection, resurfacing at a New York estate sale in 2005 where it sold for just $10,000. After extensive cleaning revealed its true nature, scientific analysis confirmed the use of lapis lazuli, a pigment rarer than gold in Renaissance Italy. Attribution debates continue among scholars, with some arguing Leonardo's workshop assistants completed portions of the painting.

In November 2017, Salvator Mundi became the most expensive painting ever sold at auction, reaching $450.3 million at Christie's New York. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman acquired it through an intermediary. The painting was destined for the Louvre Abu Dhabi, though plans were postponed. As of 2024, it remains in storage in Geneva awaiting a permanent museum home.