The comic book “Salvator Mundi: la folle histoire du tableau le plus cher du monde” tells how a painting originally purchased for $1,500 was retouched and resold for $450 million.
We know that renowned paintings attract a wealthy and discreet clientele. What is less well known, however, is how interest in a work is generated.
An art lover discovers a painting that seems promising. He has it retouched by a professional art restorer. He does not want any photos of the work in progress. People must quickly be convinced that it is a work by the famous Italian master Leonardo da Vinci.
The desire of the wealthiest people to obtain a rare painting by Leonardo da Vinci outweighs critical reasoning. Haste is a poor advisor, especially in the murky world of art. Every dealer has an interest in not revealing details that could jeopardize an interesting transaction.
The work, purchased for $1,500 a few years ago, is resold to the Russian oligarch Dmitri Rybolovlev for tens of millions of dollars. The painting becomes the playground of experts with diverging interests. The new owner disposes of his recent acquisition when he realizes that doubts persist about the authenticity of the artist.
Christie’s wins the contract to auction the painting. The famous auction house exhibits the painting in a category that surprises art professionals, alienates connoisseurs, and encourages emotional buying.
Prices skyrocket thanks to a battle between two stubborn buyers. MBS (Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia) wins the bid for $400 million plus fees. A great deal, but one in which the owner realizes a little too late that he has very possibly purchased a painting by one of Da Vinci’s students.
This purchase urgently needs to be “cleansed.” What follows are shady dealings, political pressure on President Macron, the threat of cancellation of arms contracts from France, and an attempt to use the Louvre’s reputation to “certify” a painting that is increasingly doubted to be by Leonardo.
I won’t tell you how the story ends. I’ll just add that the graphic presentation and storyline keep the reader’s attention throughout. This true story is a lesson for all art lovers, wealthy or not.
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Title : Salvator Mundi : la folle histoire du tableau le plus cher du monde.
Authors : Éric Laberge, Antoine Vitkine, Sébastien Borgeaud
Edition : Futuropolis
© 2025
ISBN : 978-2-7548-3405-6
