from France 24

World’s priciest painting not a full da Vinci, claims doc

The painting was last auctioned at Christie's in New York in 2017
The painting was last auctioned at Christie’s in New York in 2017 TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP

A French documentary has cast fresh doubts over the world’s most expensive painting, the “Salvator Mundi” credited to Leonardo da Vinci, revealing a resulting diplomatic tussle between France and its Saudi owner.

The painting of Jesus Christ, nicknamed the “male Mona Lisa”, was sold at a 2017 Christies auction in New York for a record $450 million.

Its secret buyer was later revealed to be Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, though this is still denied in Riyadh.

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