Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi may be Fake, but Brilliant Wall Art is Authentic

How would you feel if you had paid $450 million for a Leonardo da Vinci painted classic wall art and discovered that it is probably a fake?

The Telegraph reveals the full story:

When the Louvre in Paris announced that it had requested a loan of the Salvator Mundi ahead of its forthcoming Leonardo da Vinci show, it appeared that the world’s most expensive painting would finally be unveiled to the public.

But the museum has privately decided it will label the $450 million portrait of Christ merely as ‘from the workshop’ of Leonardo - a move that would render it all but worthless and leave its Saudi owners humiliated, according to an art historian who has charted the painting’s extraordinary story.

Scholars continue to debate the provenance of this wall art, which has been extensively restored.

Ben Lewis, author of ‘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…If a picture cannot show its face, that is really damning for the art world. It is almost like it has become the Saudi's latest political prisoner.”

The Salvator Mundi was sold in 2007 for just over $1,000 as a work, ‘after Leonardo da Vinci’. A decade later, it sold as the real thing for $450 million in a sale at Christie’s New York that smashed all previous records and stunned the art world.

The buyer’s identity was shrouded in secrecy but later revealed to be Prince Badr bin Abdullah al Saud, a minor Saudi royal thought to be acting on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi announced plans to display the Salvator Mundi last September but cancelled with two weeks to go. Lewis said he believed the owners were put off by experts who have expressed doubt about the painting’s authenticity. Several scholars have suggested it is, at least in part, the work of one of da Vinci’s pupils.

Some have pointed to the orb in Christ’s hand, and the fact that there is no warping of the robes behind it, as a sign that it is not the work of Leonardo - an artist of his calibre would not have painted such a ‘flat’ image. But others say this could have been a deliberate effect to make the viewer gaze only upon the face of Christ.

The painting is said to be currently in a storage facility in Switzerland. A spokesman for the Louvre was unavailable for comment.

The wall art at Brilliant Wall Art is truly eclectic, ranging from the classical to the contemporary, but they not fakes. All products are guaranteed and of high quality. Brilliant Wall Art maintain that no, “…other store is as committed as we are to the satisfaction of our customers, and this is why we will continue to offer the very best products at affordable prices.”

You simply must view our Inspirational Metal Wall Art Designs. Metal wall art sculptures are the vogue way of brightening up any room, choose from our stunning range featuring colourful, creative and unique designs, our metal tree wall art being a particular favourite for both homes and offices. If you are a fan of modern wall art, we can guarantee you will find the perfect pieces to complete any room. A classic metal wall art guitar or campervan design is always a fun and conversational addition to a collection.

All our metal wall art items are carefully crafted from metal and easy you for to wall mount. Perhaps you know someone who loves metal wall art decor, with various designs across our site making an ideal gift for any occasion. With metal wall art flowers, fish, sailing yachts, lizards any much more to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice. Our handmade and hand painted glass wall art collection may also be of interest to you.

Currently, one of my favourite collections at Brilliant Wall Art are the sculptures and statues. Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Durable sculptural processes originally utilised carving and modelling, in stone, metal, ceramics, wood and other materials.

Being an avid follower of the work of JRR Tolkien, Game of Thrones and recently "How to Train your Dragon" (with my grandson), I have a soft spot for dragons. Brilliant Wall Art has a fabulous collection of dragon sculptures. These legendary monsters are huge, bat-winged, fire-breathing, scaly lizards or snakes with barbed tails and brilliantly sculpted. Classical wall art at its best!

Why not view our BRILLIANT products at our shop stall, at an event near you?

Karen and Simon invite you to the Worcester UpMarket every Saturday and at Bewdley Market on the first and third Sunday of every month.

These are our July 2019 events:

9th - 11th July - Great Yorkshire Show - Great Yorkshire Showground, HG2 8NZ
22nd - 25th July - Royal Welsh Show - Builth Wells Wales, LD2 3SY
31st July - The Nantwich Show - The Woodlands, CW5 8DB