The story begins in 2005, when art hunters Alexander Parish and Robert Simon purchased a heavily overpainted, damaged work at a New Orleans auction house for just . Following years of meticulous restoration by Dianne Modestini—who some critics argue essentially "repainted" the work—it was attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
The Lost Leonardo (2021) is a gripping documentary that unfolds like a high-stakes thriller, chronicling the baffling journey of the Salvator Mundi , a painting of Jesus Christ that became the most expensive piece of art ever sold. Directed by Andreas Koefoed , the film exposes the murky intersection of fine art, global finance, and geopolitical power. The Incredible Ascent of the "Male Mona Lisa"
Its value skyrocketed through several controversial transactions: