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Saudi crown prince 'is real buyer' of painting by Leonardo da Vinci Saudi crown prince 'is real buyer' of painting by Leonardo da Vinci
(35 minutes later)
The saga of the only Leonardo Da Vinci painting in private hands has taken another twist with reports that US intelligence has identified the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as the true buyer of the work, which was sold for $450m (£335m) at auction.The saga of the only Leonardo Da Vinci painting in private hands has taken another twist with reports that US intelligence has identified the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, as the true buyer of the work, which was sold for $450m (£335m) at auction.
The claim will raise eyebrows, coming in the midst of a sweeping anti-corruption drive in the kingdom that has seen 159 business leaders, including members of the royal family, imprisoned in a five-star hotel over allegations of financial malfeasance. The claim will raise eyebrows, coming in the midst of a sweeping anti-corruption drive in the kingdom that has seen 159 business leaders – including members of the royal family – imprisoned in a five-star hotel over allegations of financial malfeasance.
The actual buyer of Salvator Mundi, a painting depicting Jesus Christ, was identified on Thursday as Prince Bader bin Abdullah, a little known Saudi prince who was appointed to a commission led by Bin Salman in July and appears to be an ally of the crown prince. The buyer of Salvator Mundi, a painting depicting Jesus Christ, was identified on Thursday as Prince Bader bin Abdullah, a little-known Saudi prince who was appointed to a commission led by Bin Salman in July and appears to be an ally of the crown prince.
US intelligence assessments seen by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have identified Bin Salman, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne, as the true buyer of the painting, with Bin Abdullah acting as an intermediary. But US intelligence assessments seen by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have identified Bin Salman, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne, as the true buyer of the painting, with Bin Abdullah acting as an intermediary.
The Louvre Abu Dhabi this week announced that the painting would be on display in the new museum. It is a coup for the institution and its backers, the rulers of the United Arab Emirates, who are key allies of Bin Salman in a tumultuous time for the Gulf states. The Louvre Abu Dhabi this week announced that the painting would go on display there, in a coup for the institution and its backers, the rulers of the United Arab Emirates, who are key allies of Bin Salman in a tumultuous time for the Gulf states.
In a further complication, the Louvre Abu Dhabi said on Friday the UAE government had acquired the painting. In a Twitter post, the museum said the Leonardo belonged to the Emirati capital’s department of tourism and culture, without alluding to whether it was purchased directly from the Saudi princes or at the auction at which the work was sold. In a further complication, the Louvre Abu Dhabi said on Friday that the UAE government had acquired the painting. In a Twitter post, the museum said the Leonardo belonged to the Emirati capital’s department of tourism and culture, without alluding to whether it was purchased directly from the Saudi princes or at the auction at which the work was sold.
Friday’s developments further ties the saga of the painting to the intrigues in the kingdom, and may prove embarrassing to Bin Salman due to the ongoing anti-corruption drive. Earlier this week, Saudi officials said 159 businessmen and princes had been detained at the Ritz-Carlton as part of the campaign, and the bank accounts of 376 people had been frozen. Friday’s developments further ties the saga of the painting to the intrigues in the kingdom, and may prove embarrassing to Bin Salman due to the ongoing anti-corruption drive. This week Saudi officials said 159 businessmen and princes had been detained at the Ritz-Carlton as part of the campaign, and the bank accounts of 376 people had been frozen.
Such an extravagant purchase, the most expensive in art history, during the crackdown would empower critics of the purge.Such an extravagant purchase, the most expensive in art history, during the crackdown would empower critics of the purge.
See a gallery of the world's most expensive paintingsSee a gallery of the world's most expensive paintings
Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi sold for $400 million at Christie’s ($450.3m, including auction house premium)Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi sold for $400 million at Christie’s ($450.3m, including auction house premium)
One of four versions of The Scream created by Munch and the only one that is privately owned. The painting sold for $119,922,500One of four versions of The Scream created by Munch and the only one that is privately owned. The painting sold for $119,922,500
Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932) sold at Christie's in New York for $106,482,500Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust (1932) sold at Christie's in New York for $106,482,500
L’homme qui Marche I (1961) by Alberto Giacometti sold for £65,001,250 ($105,182,398) at Sotheby’s in LondonL’homme qui Marche I (1961) by Alberto Giacometti sold for £65,001,250 ($105,182,398) at Sotheby’s in London
Picasso’s Boy With a Pipe (1905) sold at Sotheby's in New York for $104,168,000Picasso’s Boy With a Pipe (1905) sold at Sotheby's in New York for $104,168,000
Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912)went under the hammer at Christie’s New York and sold for $87,936,000Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912)went under the hammer at Christie’s New York and sold for $87,936,000
Francis Bacon’s Triptych (1976) sold for $85.9m to oligarch Roman AbramovichFrancis Bacon’s Triptych (1976) sold for $85.9m to oligarch Roman Abramovich
A Chinese 18th century Qianlong dynasty porcelain vase sold for £53,100,000 ($85,921,461) at Bainbridges auction house in LondonA Chinese 18th century Qianlong dynasty porcelain vase sold for £53,100,000 ($85,921,461) at Bainbridges auction house in London
Dora Maar au Chat (1941) by Pablo Picasso sold for £51,560,080 ($83,429,503) at Sotheby's in LondonDora Maar au Chat (1941) by Pablo Picasso sold for £51,560,080 ($83,429,503) at Sotheby's in London
Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh sold for $82,500,000 (£50,985,692) at Christie’s in New YorkPortrait of Dr Paul Gachet (1890) by Vincent van Gogh sold for $82,500,000 (£50,985,692) at Christie’s in New York
It is also likely to raise the concerns of religious clerics, key pillars of authority in the kingdom. The painting glorifies Christ, who Muslims believe is a prophet rather than a divine being, and conservative scholars disapprove of the portrayal of God’s messengers in artwork. It is also likely to raise concerns among religious clerics, key pillars of authority in the kingdom. The painting glorifies Christ, who Muslims believe was a prophet rather than a divine being, and conservative scholars disapprove of the portrayal of God’s messengers in artwork.
The young crown prince has repeatedly challenged the authority of the clerics, weakening the power of the morality police and granting women the right to drive. He has pledged to return Saudi Arabia, a bastion of a conservative strain of the faith, to moderate Islam.The young crown prince has repeatedly challenged the authority of the clerics, weakening the power of the morality police and granting women the right to drive. He has pledged to return Saudi Arabia, a bastion of a conservative strain of the faith, to moderate Islam.
Those factors could have played a role in the Saudi leader’s decision to use an intermediary to purchase the painting.Those factors could have played a role in the Saudi leader’s decision to use an intermediary to purchase the painting.
Bin Abdullah had on Thursday published a statement that described the initial New York Times report revealing him as the buyer as riddled with inaccuracies, but stopped short of denying that he purchased the painting and did not say whether Bin Salman had played a role. On Thursday Bin Abdullah published a statement saying the initial New York Times report revealing him as the buyer was riddled with inaccuracies, but he stopped short of denying that he purchased the painting and did not say whether Bin Salman played a role.
Bin Abdullah is treasurer of a committee charged with developing a region in Saudi Arabia that contains many archaelogical sites, including Mada’in Salih, a Nabatean ruin that is believed to be where an ancient prophet described in the Qur’an lived. Bin Abdullah is the treasurer of a committee charged with developing a region in Saudi Arabia that contains many sites of archaeological interest, including Mada’in Salih, a Nabatean ruin that is believed to be where an ancient prophet described in the Qur’an lived.