Saudi Arabia’s Secret Plans to Unveil Its Hidden da Vinci—and Become an Art-World Heavyweight

Wall Street Journal ^ | June 6, 2020 | Kelly Crow

[C19fan]

Saudi Arabia sparked one of the art world’s biggest mysteries when it paid $450 million for Leonardo da Vinci’s “Salvator Mundi” painting three years ago. Since then, the kingdom has kept the world’s priciest painting out of sight—fueling mounting questions about its fate. Now, some answers are starting to emerge. The kingdom’s new Ministry of Culture plans to keep the masterpiece in storage until it can build a new museum to unveil it, according to people familiar with the matter. The plans—kept secret until now—are part of a multibillion-dollar push by the Saudis to become a major international art destination, the scope of which hasn’t been previously revealed.

[C19fan]

Isn't it forbidden under the Wahhabi version of Islam even to have paintings with people and animals in them?

[fishtank]

Images are haram.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Odd thing for the Saudi's to acquire. Salvator Mundi is Latin for "Savior of the World"

[Telepathic Intruder]

The painting depicts Jesus in Renaissance dress.

Here he is in tuxedo.

[Alas Babylon!]

Here he is as a rock star:

I had this album way back in the day. My little brother called him "Blonde Jesus".

[Telepathic Intruder]

I have the keys to death and hell and rock and roll.

[fishtank]

Saudi Arabia has been in the pilgrimage / tourism bidness for CENTURIES.

This is diversification of their customer base, it seems.

[myerson]

Indeed it is.

[minnesota_bound]

Instead of spending $450 million you can get a copy for just $23.99
https://www.amazon.com/Leonardo-Vinci-Salvator-Mundi-Poster/dp/B01M17Z2W0

[SunkenCiv]

Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' | 2017 World Auction Record | Christie's

[SunkenCiv]

Bright White Light - Shawn Phillips

[SunkenCiv]

They got a bargain.

The Discovery & Restoration of Leonardo da Vinci's Long-Lost Painting "Salvator Mundi" | Robb Report

[SunkenCiv]

“that means ‘from Vinci’”

https://www.facebook.com/cosmothekman/videos/on-that-da-vinci-sleep/1040974566288781/

[SunkenCiv]

Isleworth Mona Lisa topics (the next lost Leonardo to finally emerge?):

• Younger, happier Mona Lisa painted 10 years earlier, experts believe [2012]
• Is This An Early 'Mona Lisa?' [2012]

rest of the 'davinci' keyword, chrono:

• Leonardo da Vinci's early drawings for "The Virgin of the Rocks" were revealed through X-ray analysis. [2020]
• Lot 1: Horse and Rider, Leonardo da Vinci's (Only Surviving Sculpture on Auction) [2019]
• What inspired it and why is it worth so much?HARRY MOUNT cracks the code of Leonardo da Vinci's... [2019]
• Leonardo's dragon (How did he draw a dinosaur so accurately?) [2019]
• Celebrating Leonardo da Vinci's Life:A look at the visionary's 10 greatest creations. [tr] [2019]
• Leonardo da Vinci's 500th anniversary: The great master's enduring legacy [2019]
• Did Mona Lisa Suffer from Hypothyroidism? [2018]
• From da Vinci's Salvator Mundi at $450MILLION to a 10ft tall painting of red scribbles for $46m [2018]
• Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci's Mother? This Researcher Knows [2017]
• Mona Lisa's Secret Number to Duchamp's Hidden Face: 5 Conspiracy Theories to Blow Up Your Art World [2017]
• Saudi Prince Salman Confirmed as 'Salvator Mundi' Buyer [2017]
• After Leonardo's Sky-High Sale, the Art World Asks, Is There Still a Ceiling? [2017]
• That $450 Million Leonardo? It's No Mona Lisa. [2017]
• Leonardo da Vinci painting 'Salvator Mundi' sold for record $450.3 million [2017]
• How this $100M da Vinci masterpiece flew under the radar for centuries [2017]
• Da Vinci's 'male Mona Lisa' expected to sell for $100M -- Salvatori Mundi (video) [2017]
• Da Vinci might have painted topless version of Mona Lisa [2017]
• Secrets of Da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine Finally Revealed [2017]
• Leonardo da Vinci's DNA [2016]
• The Anatomy Drawings of Leonardo, Now Available Online [2016]
• Jihad in Los Angeles? [2015]
• Man Arrested in Connection With Massive Fire at Unfinished Apartment Complex in Downtown L.A [2015]
• 'Lost' Leonardo da Vinci painting seized by Italy [2015]
• BBC Imagine Who's Afraid of Machiavelli [2014]
• Leonardo Da Vinci's viola organista debuts ... 500 years after its design [2013]
• Listen To A Crazy Piano Invented By Leonardo Da Vinci [2013]
• Viola organista made by Slawomir Zubrzycki [a la Leonardo da Vinci] [2013]
• Leonardo da Vinci painting lost for centuries found in Swiss bank vault [2013]
• Mona Lisa's Skeleton? Scientists Perform DNA Testing, Digital Reconstruction On Da Vinci's Neighbor [2013]
• Leonardo da Vinci's Groundbreaking Drawings of the Unborn [2013]
• Two Leonardos found in 'Last Supper' [2012]
• Possible da Vinci painting found in Scottish farmhouse; could be worth $150 million [2012]
• Mona Lisa's Skeleton Found? [2012]
• Mona Lisa's 'twin sister' discovered in Spain's Prado art museum [2012]
• Did Leonardo da Vinci Copy his Famous 'Vitruvian Man'? [2012]
• Artist Believes He's Found Secret Code in the Mona Lisa [2011]
• The Last Supper - The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci [2011]
• A New Theory for "Mona Lisa" [2011]
• Professor discovers hidden literary references in the Mona Lisa [2011]
• Mona Lisa painting 'contains hidden code' [2010]
• Leonardo Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' reveals more secrets [2010]
• Da Vinci 'predicted world would end in 4006' says Vatican researcher [2010]
• Is Mona Lisa too fat? [2010]
• Is Da Vinci's Mona Lisa a Self-Portrait? Some say...{It} May Be a Self-Portrait... in Drag [2010]
• Fr. George Rutler: Copernicus greater than Leonardo da Vinci and... [2009]
• Leonardo fingerprint reveals $150 million artwork [2009]
• Fingerprint points to $19,000 portrait being revalued as £100m work by Leonardo da Vinci [2009]
• A High-Tech Hunt for Lost Art [2009]
• Booksellers hope for lucky 'Symbol' [2009]
• "Mona Lisa" comes to life in high-tech art exhibit [2009]
• 15 Da Vinci War Machines [2009]
• Nude, Mona Lisa-like painting surfaces [2009]
• Yet Another Mona Lisa Video Released [2009]
• Da Vinci artworks stored in a cave during WW II [2009]
• Video: Three near-invisible drawings discovered on back of Da Vinci masterpiece [2008]
• Real-Life 'DaVinci Code' Found on Back of Masterpiece [2008]
• Is Battlestar Galactica being sacrilegious with this picture? [2008]
• Da Vinci's works on exhibit in Saxony [2008]
• German experts crack Mona Lisa smile (discovers model's identity) [2008]
• Codex Atlanticus by Leonardo Da Vinci is being damaged by mould [2007]
• Did Da Vinci Hide God's Face In Painting [2007]
• Musical score reportedly found in 'Last Supper' [2007]
• Italian musician uncovers hidden music in Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' [2007]
• Engineers to search for Leonardo fresco [Battle of Anghiari] [2007]
• High resolution image hints at 'Mona Lisa's' eyebrows [2007]
• Da Vinci's Last Supper: New Conspiracy Theory [2007]
• Secret image 'found' in Last Supper [2007]
• Musicians unlock mystery melody in chapel (Scottish Church featured in DaVinci Code) [2007]
• Mona Lisa Grave Found, Claims Scholar [2007]
• 'Mona Lisa' died in 1542, was buried in convent [2007]
• 'Mona Lisa' died in 1542, buried in Florence [2007]
• Hunt for Da Vinci painting will resume[Missing "Battle of Anghiari"] [2007]
• Experts reconstruct Leonardo fingerprint [2006]
• Scan hints Mona Lisa pregnant for pose (was La Joconde pregnant?) [2006]
• Copy of Mona Lisa provides insight into original [2006]
• V&A turns down Bill Gates loan over 'draconian' restrictions [2006]
• Scientists to unveil secrets of Mona Lisa [2006]
• 'Miami Vice' Far Less Than a Universal Thriller at the Box Office (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™) [2006]
• Military robo-surgeon prepares for battle [2006]
• "Da Vinci Code" takes in $750 million [2006]
• Riddle of Mona Lisa is finally solved: she was the mother of five [2006]
• "Da Vinci Code" graffiti appears on door of Catholic Church [2006]
• The Portable Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code Alert) [2006]
• Interview: Standing behind the stormy campaign around the Da Vinci Code are Masons [2006]
• "DaVinci Code" Box Office Drops 55.9% From Previous Week [2006]
• Salt & Light: Warning About THE DA VINCI CODE Is an Act of Loving Kindness and Truth [2006]
• THE DA VINCI CODE - BLASPHEMY HITS THE BIG SCREEN [2006]
• John Allen speaks on Benedict and Opus Dei [2006]
• "Da Vinci Code" unlocks $224 mln in world sales [2006]
• *_Book (and limited Movie) Review of The DaVinci Code, by Dan Brown_* [2006]
• On Point: A different standard [2006]
• Combating the big lie: Defending the Bible from 'The Da Vinci Code' [2006]
• Why Should We Stop THE DA VINCI CODE? [2006]
• Can the Da Vinci Code be a hit, despite critical assault (some satire included) [2006]
• The Clinton Code [2006]
• Out of Touch (Peggy Noonan Alert) [2006]
• Review: The DaVinci Code (Hilarious) [2006]
• Howstuffworks.com: How The Da Vinci Code Doesn't Work [2006]
• Jesus Christ as Poached Egg [2006]
• Da Vinci Code movie bombs before media audience [2006]
• Religious Leaders Call for Boycott of Sony's DaVinci Code the Movie (Comments by HLI President) [2006]
• 'Da Vinci' actor: Bible needs 'fiction' disclaimer [2006]
• Critics Find 'Da Vinci Code' Lacking [2006]
• India may censor showing of Da Vinci Code film [2006]
• On the trail of the lost Leonardo [2006]
• 'Da Vinci' undermines faith, survey claims [2006]
• The DaVinci Delusion That Cannot Be Ignored [2006]
• Catholic Caucus: The Da Vinci Catechism [2006]
• Egypt won't see DaVinci Code [2006]
• 'The Da Vinci Code': Why Christians Should Celebrate (Bill Press Alert) [2006]
• The Da Vinci De-Coder [2006]
• Official wants Da Vinci movie banned (describes religious thriller as blasphemous) [2006]
• Catholic Devotion: Pray the Rosary for the Souls at Risk (The Da Vinci Code) [2006]
• Greek Orthodox church slams Da Vinci Code (via Drudge 'damns'...) [2006]
• Opus Dei provides virtual tour of US headquarters [2006]
• Da Vinci Code: Calls for fatal hunger strikes in India [2006]
• Cardinal urges [hypocritical] legal action against Da Vinci Code [2006]
• The Da Vinci Code, Christianity and the Bible [2006]
• Da Vinci judge's secret revealed [2006]
• Smithy's code: new twist in Da Vinci drama [2006]
• Da Vinci film faces ban in Korea [2006]
• No Defence For Da Vinci [2006]
• US bishops seek to educate about Jesus prior to release of Da Vinci Code film [2006]
• Brown did not copy the Da Vinci Code, lawyer says [2006]
• Talking in Code (Hugh Hewitt on Da Vinci conversations) [2006]
• That's not Leonardo da Vinci! [2006]
• Web site for 'Da Vinci Code' critics [2006]
• Invasion of 'Da Vinci' book clones challenges church history, teaching [2006]
• Enigma of Mona Lisa Smile Cracked [2005]
• Cracking da Vinci's coded smile (83% happy, 9% disgusted, 6% fearful and 2% angry) [2005]
• The DaVinci Code Movie--in a nutshell [2005]
• How Leonardo gave top surgeon change of heart [2005]
• Nun upstages star Hanks [2005]
• Sprinkling Holy Water on 'The Da Vinci Code' [2005]
• Da Vinci Sketch Hidden Under Painting [2005]
• New Leonardo picture discovered [2005]
• ART APPECIATION THREAD Is this the Da Vinci Clue? (Vasari fresco holds mystery) [2005]
• Mona Lisa Smiles From New Louvre Digs [2005]
• Best-Selling "Da Vinci Code" on Trial [2005]
• A Da Vinci Complex? Call It a Hypothesis [2005]
• Discovery of hidden laboratory sheds light on Leonardo's genius [2005]
• Hidden room where Leonardo met his Mona [2005]
• Technology rescues Italy's art (DaVinci's Last Supper crumbling) [2005]
• Medici Project Turns Up Mystery Bodies [2004]
• X-prize race hots up [2004]
• More on the "Da Vinci Code" [2004]
• Fact, Fiction, and The Da Vinci Code [2004]
• Louvre: The Mona Lisa Is Deteriorating [2004]
• Code Breakers: "The Da Vinci Code" and its discontents. [2004]
• New Books Exposing "The Da Vinci Code" [2004]
• More on Breaking The DaVinci Code [2004]
• The Lies and Erros in "The Da Vinvi Code" [2003]
• Even faithful struggle with religion (Cindy Richards Shallow End of the Pool Alert) [2003]
• Leonardo Da Vinci: Son of a Slave? [2002]
• Giotto's Restored Masterpiece [2002]
• Mona Lisa 'was Italy's legendary woman warrior' [2002]

[Jim Noble]

If the kingdom exists in ten years, I will be very surprised.

[Jim Noble]

If we had to back an Islamic nation (which we didn’t), we’ve picked the wrong one.

[dfwgator]

I just wish Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey could all just get in a big war with each other, while we stand back and eat popcorn.