Da Vinci Painting to Reappear in Saudi Louvre

The Renaissance painting Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, is poised to become the centerpiece of a new museum in Saudi Arabia, as revealed in a recent BBC documentary. This development comes amid ongoing discussions about the painting's restoration and its controversial history. The artwork, often referred to as the "male Mona Lisa," has garnered significant attention since its auction in 2017, where it was described as the "holy grail of Old Master paintings." In the documentary titled *The Kingdom: The World’s Most Powerful Prince*, a Princeton University professor discussed plans for a major museum in Riyadh, potentially serving as a second outlet for the Louvre. The museum's establishment is seen by some as an attempt to "art-wash" the kingdom's human rights record. The painting's association with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman adds another layer of intrigue, as it was previously reported that Salvator Mundi was kept on the prince's superyacht, the Serene, highlighting its elusive nature. Despite its fame, the genuine 500-year-old painting, known as "the Cook version," remains difficult to locate. It was reportedly stored in Geneva before its record-breaking auction. In 2019, plans for the painting to be displayed in Paris alongside the Mona Lisa were thwarted, raising questions about its future exhibition and the scientific examinations conducted on it, which sought to draw parallels with Leonardo's iconic works.