Posted on 12/09/2017 5:46:56 PM PST by marshmallow
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the actual buyer of a painting by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci that sold for a record-breaking $450 million at auction last month, the Wall Street Journal has reported.
The young crown prince, known by his initials MBS, used an intermediary to buy the much-sought-after painting of Christ, 'Salvator Mundi', the newspaper reported, citing US intelligence and other unnamed sources.
The son of Saudi King Salman is seen to be progressively consolidating his power, and is the architect of a wide-ranging plan dubbed Vision 2030 to bring social and economic change to his country's oil-dependent economy.
He is also seen as the mastermind of last month's rounding-up of more than 200 princes, ministers and businessmen in a sweeping anti-corruption purge.
The painting - one of fewer than 20 works generally accepted as being by the Renaissance master, according to Christie's - was bought by little-known Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud, reports say.
The Journal reported that Bader was the nominal buyer, but said MBS was identified in US intelligence reports as the true owner.
(Excerpt) Read more at rte.ie ...
That’s a great piece of art!
A true historical treasure.
He has a picture of Jesus, but he doesn’t know Jesus.
I have hopes that the prince will trigger a reformation in Islam. It is long overdue. He has somewhat progressive views. He has the power and the money. Imagine a world in which extremist Muslims acted like extremist Christians (help people, pray for even their enemies, champion for pro life.... instead of blowing stuff up)
Perhaps he will come to know him.
Perhaps you are mistaken.
If He could call Saul of Tarsus, who knows what is possible?
Will he destroy it?
That’s silly. Islam teaches Christ was a Prophet of God. This is the same view as many Jews on the issue.
beautiful picture, in wrong hands tho. very wrong hands (
very very very very very wrong hands, alas.
if you read their Koran it has over 100 instructions to invade, subjugate, hate, conquer or murder Christians and other non_Moslems)
That is what I was thinking.
You don't know that. Things are changing very fast in Saudi Arabia.
King Salman has transferred every title he had to Mohammed bin Salman except one, the title "Guardian of the two holy mosques." That he is keeping. I think that is very important, and is going over the heads of most outsiders.
Saudi Arabia is changing along the lines of the old Papal states, when the Pope gave up most of the land it owned, which then formed the modern state of Italy, and kept just enough land for the Vatican.
Saudi Arabia has given up guardianship of the two holy mosques, and is becoming multi religious. Mohammed bin Salman could not have bought that painting if he was the guardian, but since he isn't, he can. This purchase was a statement.
Others have converted
islam cannot gracefully allow that to happen.
I do too. I think some of these guys are able to see the Big Picture of a future where the oil money has dried up and diversification made possible through foreign investment becomes necessary. There's a fork in the road that points to wealthy, cosmopolitan UAE or ignorant, poverty-stricken backwater Yemen and it is up to Saudi leaders which direction to take.
That’s a pretty bold assertion.
Got anything to show you know what’s in his soul?
There's a branch of The Louve that opened this years in Saudi. That's where it is going.
half a billion bucks is big money even for s Saudi just to destroy it, but anything is possible
I can buy a copy for $25 with a frame at any street fair.
He overpaid!
Da Vinci was the first to use acuity perspective.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.