So Da Vinci's Salvatore Mundi just sold for (what is probably) more than all the lots of major watch auctions this calendar year combined - $450.3m USD. In light of this, I remembered an interesting article on it's storied past that highlights parallels between the underbelly of vintage watch sales and that of the far more expensive art market. This is obviously an imperfect comparison but it's definitely an interesting read about buying, selling, flipping, and disclosure in a market that is entirely subjective, obsessed with originality, and less honorable than many of us would like.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/...leonardo-sold-and-resold-at-a-big-markup.html

Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Do all my own research with the help of several enthusiastic and knowledgeable members.

Cuts out having to feed and school the middleman/dealers children.

 

I am assuming that the people that are suing Sotheby’s are doing so to give more money back to the original estate sale seller.

 

Wow, half a billion dollars @.@

 

I checked on leonardo101.com.

I think the buyer overpaid.

 

Also I think for watches it would be much cheaper with security and preserve costs

 

Painting is terrible! What's with the crystal ball? I have seen vans in the 70's with better prog art.

 

I will never understand art. A fine watch, on the other hand...

 

Interesting development of this now notorious painting. Leonardo himself probably had little involvement.

I liked the OP article on the shenanigans that occurred during the painting's previous sale,
1) 113 M$ post-sale appraisal by Sotheby’s when they actually sold it for 80 M$
2) the Swiss art dealer supposedly working on commission actually flipping the piece for a much bigger paycheck,
3) Russian oligarch buyer.

Nice bunch of businessmen.

 

The hands are not correct for the year?

 

Art has a greater function than telling time: elevating the spirit of humanity.

 

One critic wrote of this particular portrait:

"This Jesus, far from saving the world, might struggle to save himself a seat on a crosstown bus."

 

Agreed. I would have entitled it, "Androgynous Jesus."

 

Many of Da Vinci's paintings have an androgynous feel. Look at his St John the Baptist below. Also compare the soft, three dimensional effect that is Da Vinci's hallmark found here that is lacking in the Salvatore Mundi shown above.

 

Yes, the glazing technique on the Mundi is clearly lacking.

 

I thinks it's the poster is a Phantasm Prequel.

 

Looks like a John Currin reject.

 

Funny thing about the Salvatore Mundi is that it sold for 45 quid back in 1958 when the owners didn't know what they had in their possession! Even at 45 GBP they thought they were getting too much for what was described as a "dirty, damaged and retouched" painting.

A lot of scholars still think that DaVinci had nothing to do with this work since it was not logged by him nor mentioned in his personal writings of himself doing such a work. Albeit the Salvatore Mundi was said to be painted around a decade before Da Vinci passed away. So it is still up for debate.

 

It does appear to be a service frame. Surprised no one here mentioned it...

 

... and then there’s the matter of the obviously missing crown.