[txhurl]

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/oct/19/mystery-jesus-christ-orb-leonardo-da-vinci-salvator-mundi-painting

Mystery over Christ’s orb in $100m Leonardo da Vinci painting

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Then CINC and Salman being photographed with that orb. Maybe the Saudis knew of the painting and waited for auction, knowing they could outbid anybody. I really do expect it to be gifted to Western Christian allies of the House of Saud eventually.

[RoosterRedux]

That article you linked to is very interesting.

$450 million is a lot of dough for a painting whose authenticity is at all in question.

Considering that the Saudis are usually shrewd investors and this acquisition comes at a time of financial strain for the KSA, not to mention one of upheaval, I would think the purchaser has gone to great extremes to have the painting examined.

Great mystery here.