‘The Lost Leonardo’ Tells The Story Of The Most Expensive Painting Ever Sold
Image via Sony Pictures Classics
The story of Salvator Mundi, the world’s most expensive painting ever sold, has been a rather enigmatic one.
Shortly after it was auctioned off for US$450 million, an art historian and Leonardo da Vinci scholar alleged that only 20% of the painting had been contributed by the master artist, with the majority of the portrait painted by a helper.
Of course, as with many of Da Vinci’s works, there have also been speculations of the piece being a fake. Art scholar Ben Lewis published a book, titled The Last Leonardo, insisting the world’s most expensive portrait was in fact forged. There were also further speculations that the artwork had gone missing.
Now, Sony Pictures Classics is releasing a brand-new documentary shedding light on this monumental piece of art and its surrounding mystery. The Lost Leonardo, directed by Andreas Koefoed, will follow the unbelievable yet true story of the Salvator Mundi, which had originally been bought for just US$1,175 in New Orleans before being revealed to be a work of Da Vinci.
According to Collider, the film promises to examine the mystique of the portrait from all angles, from art dealers who insist it’s the real thing to those who suspect it was forged. Plus, the incredible price the portrait fetched does complicate matters too, as with everything that costs that much.
The documentary is set to open in New York and Los Angeles on August 13. Check out the trailer below.
[via Collider, cover image via Sony Pictures Classics]
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