The painting Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci and sold for a staggering $450 million at Christie’s in 2017, has not been publicly displayed since its record-breaking auction. A recent BBC report suggests that the artwork may currently be stored in Geneva.

The positive news, according to the BBC, is that its owner, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, may eventually make it available for public viewing. The report indicates that MBS plans to showcase the painting in a future museum in Riyadh, positioning it as a cultural centerpiece akin to the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.

The information comes largely from Saad al-Jabr, a senior Saudi security official with ties to top Western intelligence agencies, along with insights from various Saudi insiders and Western diplomats. The report also touches on MBS’s alleged involvement in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a claim he has denied, while outlining his rise in the Middle East. MBS’s acquisition of Salvator Mundi is seen as part of a broader initiative to modernize Saudi Arabia.

This modernization effort extends beyond the arts to sports, with substantial investments in global sporting events, including a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, alongside high-profile tennis and golf tournaments—an approach often referred to as “sportswashing.”

For years, speculation has suggested that Salvator Mundi might be kept on MBS’s yacht. However, Bernard Haykel, a Near Eastern Studies professor at Princeton University, stated in the BBC report that the painting is actually stored in Geneva.

The attribution of Salvator Mundi to Leonardo has sparked intense debate within the art community. Some experts argue that the painting's style does not match Leonardo’s known works, particularly regarding the proportions and facial features of the figure. Additionally, the painting has undergone extensive restoration, raising further questions about the authenticity of its underlying layers and details.

 Sayart / Kelly.K pittou8181@gmail.com