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Saudi crown prince 'is real buyer' of painting by Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo's Salvator Mundi: Abu Dhabi bought world's most expensive painting
(about 4 hours 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. Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of Jesus Christ, which was sold for a record $450m (£335m) at auction last month, was acquired by Abu Dhabi’s department of culture and tourism, according to Christie’s in New York.
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 announcement was the latest twist in a saga over the painting after it was reported that the buyer was the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
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. “Christie’s can confirm that the department of culture and tourism, Abu Dhabi, is acquiring Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci,” the auction house said in a statement on Friday. “We are delighted to see that this remarkable painting will be available for public view at the Louvre Abu Dhabi.”
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 painting was purchased by a then unidentified bidder via telephone after a protracted contest lasting nearly 20 minutes at the auction house.
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. A document seen by Reuters showed that a little-known Saudi prince, Badr bin Abdullah al Saud, was authorised to purchase the painting on behalf of the Abu Dhabi culture ministry.
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. On Thursday, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that US intelligence assessments had identified Bin Salman, the powerful heir to the Saudi throne, as the true buyer of the painting, with Bin Abdullah acting as an intermediary.
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. But on Friday, the Louvre Abu Dhabi said the country’s culture ministry had acquired the painting.
Such an extravagant purchase, the most expensive in art history, during the crackdown would empower critics of the purge. The museum announced this week that it 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.
Friday’s developments further tie the saga of the painting to the intrigues in the kingdom, and may prove embarrassing to Bin Salman due to an 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.
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 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.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. Bin Salman 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. On Thursday, Bin Abdullah published a statement saying the 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.
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 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.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.