Da Vinci “only contributed” to Salvator Mundi

[Eldorado 60,914]

Experts at the Louvre refused to show the $450 million Salvator Mundi as a genuine Leonardo da Vinci after telling its Saudi royal owners its “authenticity” was in doubt, according to a new film.

The painting became the world’s most expensive art work when it was sold at auction by Christie’s in November 2017 to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.

In an interview for a new documentary, The Savior for Sale, a senior official in French President Emmanuel Macron’s government says secret work carried out at the Louvre found Leonardo “only contributed” to the picture.

UK Standard

The Art Newspaper

[Wistman 16,865]

Interesting, though it seems to fly in the face of a lot of experts, most notably Kemp, who were strikingly not included in the Louvre's secret panel with its secret findings about the picture.  Until they show the manner and proof for their secret verdict, and get the assent of the prominent scholars and connoisseurs who form the body of opinion in the art world, I'd say the verdict is still out.  This film seems like a very political document, to say the least.

That being said, the major restorations to the painting carried out prior to its sale skew the gaze of the eyes and misalign the aspect of the face , so in that sense Leonardo's hand is only partially present, since the left side of the face (from the viewers point of view) was lost long ago and had to be completely painted in, poorly in my view.  If you look at the images in the article, you can see how the restorer misplaced the left eye, a little too high.  An egregious error.

Edited Thursday at 12:17 AM by The Wistman

[Eldorado 60,914]

8 hours ago, The Wistman said:

 If you look at the images in the article, you can see how the restorer misplaced the left eye, a little too high.  An egregious error.

Far too often, 'restorer' = vandal.

[Eldorado 60,914]

On 4/8/2021 at 9:38 AM, Eldorado said:

Far too often, 'restorer' = vandal.

Authorities in Cambodia have criticised an artist after he altered photos of victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide.

Irish artist Matt Loughrey colourised images of photos taken in the notorious Tuol Sleng prison. Smiles were reportedly added to some faces.

In a Vice article, which was later removed, Loughrey said he had wanted to humanise the victims.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-56707984