Is it art history or art mystery? A decrepit painting that sold for $1,000 in 2005 is actually a work by DaVinci. A dozen years later, it sold for a record $450 million at an auction. Where is the painting today? No one knows! Or if they do know, they’re not revealing its location.
If we’ve piqued your interest, you may want to reserve a place at the Hudson Valley Gallery at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 when art historian Matt Soltis and art conservator Paul Gould offer a presentation on DaVinci’s “Salvator Mundi” (the Savior of the World).
A pair of collectors, Robert Simon and Alexander Parrish, had agreed to spend up to $10,000 for the painting when they saw it listed at an auction in Louisiana. They thought it was an old portrait — possibly by a student trying to imitate DaVinci. They parted with a thousand dollars, and brought their acquisition to Dianne Modestini, an art restorer at NYU.
The relic was in horrible condition. Whoever tried to repair it had covered parts of the original with red paint. Prof. Modestini said it looked more like a clown’s face than the head of Christ.
To complicate the restoration, there was a bow-shaped crack in the surface. But, fortunately, it surrounded the face without touching it. The restorer would not have to improvise.
As she began her assignment, she realized she was not doctoring the work of a student. The pencil underdrawing convinced her that she was restoring an original. She read a book on the preparation of the “Mona Lisa” and could see similarities to the painting in front of her.
There were additional clues but we’ll let Mr. Gould and Mr. Soltis reveal them during their Saturday afternoon presentation. If you want to join them, call 401-5443 to reserve a place. A third of the admissions fee will go to Autism Speaks.
The gallery is at 246 Hudson Street in Cornwall-on-Hudson. There is parking on the street and in the municipal lot behind the building. The hosts will be serving refreshments.
When Prof. Modestini completed the restoration, she said it felt like a break-up. She had developed a sense of communion with DaVinci’s creation. The masterpiece was sold at Christie’s on Nov. 15, 2017 and was expected to go to the Louvre in Abu Dhabi. But it has never shown up there.
