description The Lost Leonardo Overview
"The Lost Leonardo" is a 2021 documentary film directed by Andreas Koefoed that examines the attribution, restoration, and subsequent sale of the painting "Salvator Mundi." The film details the highly speculative and opaque nature of the international art market following the painting's controversial authentication as a lost work by Leonardo da Vinci. It traces the painting's journey through various intermediaries and its record-breaking $450 million auction sale in 2017. The documentary is intended for viewers interested in art authentication, high-stakes finance, and cultural provenance.
help The Lost Leonardo FAQ
What is the controversy surrounding the attribution of Salvator Mundi in The Lost Leonardo?
Andreas Koefoed's 2021 documentary follows the debate over whether Salvator Mundi should be attributed to Leonardo da Vinci or to his workshop. It shows how restoration, expert opinion, dealers, and the international art market shaped the painting's reputation.
How much did Salvator Mundi sell for after the events in The Lost Leonardo?
Christie's sold Salvator Mundi in 2017 for about $450 million including the buyer's premium. That sale made it the most expensive artwork publicly sold at auction at the time.
Who restored Salvator Mundi before its dramatic rise in value?
The restoration associated with the painting's rediscovery was carried out by conservator Dianne Dwyer Modestini. The documentary uses that restoration history to explore how physical intervention can affect the attribution and market value of an artwork.
Is The Lost Leonardo mainly an art-history documentary or an auction-market documentary?
It combines art history with an investigation of dealers, collectors, museums, experts, and auction houses involved with Salvator Mundi. Its 2021 release presents the painting as a case study in the speculative and opaque international art market.
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