In praise of Salvator Mundi, Loic Gouzer, Co-Chairman Post-War and Contemporary Art, said: "We toured Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi around the world, and at every stop crowds of people were drawn to this painting, wanting to stand in front of the picture and experience it in person. Salvator Mundi evokes joy, ecstasy, anger, awe — it just touches every emotion. Even for me, it is very difficult to pinpoint what it is that makes this painting so poignant, you cannot comprehend the mystery of Leonardo. That is the magic of his work. Bidders from all around the world recognized this elusive and mesmerizing quality, and competed passionately to acquire this work in what was surely a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Christie's Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale broke several records last night. Though there were many notable sales, including Andy Warhol's Sixty Last Suppers, which sold for $60,875,000, much attention was focused on Leonardo da Vinci’s, Salvator Mundi. Despite some doubts about the authenticity of the painting, the recently rediscovered work sold for $450,312,500, breaking the world auction record for any work sold at auction.
