The paintings of Leonardo da Vinci are highly coveted, with works such as 'The Last Supper' and the 'Mona Lisa' among the most-viewed masterpieces in the world.
So when one of da Vinci's most controversial paintings 'Salvator Mundi' disappeared after selling at auction for £354 million in 2017, many wondered where the portrait had gone.
While a work of such renown would normally be kept in a temperature-controlled gallery, it’s reportedly on a Saudi royal's superyacht.
Curator and art dealer Kenny Schachter reported that after some research, he was told by sources that the painting is now in the hands of a Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
Described by Schachter as “the world's most expensive, missing-in-action painting”, Mohammed Bin Salman reportedly purchased the £354 million painting in 2017 through an intermediary.
It now reportedly sits somewhere on his 134 metre superyacht, Serene. According to The Telegraph, the boat is moored in the Mediterranean near Port Said.
Schachter wrote, “The work was whisked away in the middle of the night on MBS’s plane and relocated to his yacht, the Serene.”
The piece was initially intended to be exhibited at Abu Dhabi’s branch of the Louvre as well as in a dedicated Da Vinci exhibit at its bigger Parisian counterpart. Experts have speculated that the decision to pull the painting could be because there’s still a strong debate about whether or not Leonardo Da Vinci is its original creator.
Some believe that his studio (and more specifically, his assistant Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio) is behind the painting, with some minor touch ups made by Da Vinci.
The Louvre’s team reportedly attributed the work to Da Vinci’s workshop and not the artist - which would have a significant impact on the value of the piece.
In fact, one expert believes that the $450 million painting could drop to just over $1 million in value.
Da Vinci expert Ben Lewis, who authored The Last Leonardo, said, “It is very unlikely it will be shown because the owner of this picture cannot possibly lend it to the Louvre Paris and see it exhibited as ‘Leonardo workshop’ - its value will go down to somewhere north of $1.5m.”
According to one of Schachten’s sources, the painting will remain on Serene for the near future.
His source reported that it will “remain onboard until MBS finishes transforming the ancient Saudi precinct of Al-Ula into a vast cultural hub”; an area already known for its UNESCO World Heritage landmark Mada’in Saleh and cultural events including the Tantora music festival.
