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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Vanessa Thorpe Arts correspondent

Salvator Mundi, Saudi Arabia and the saga of the missing masterpiece

Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vini
Salvator Mundi, believed to be held in a secure vault in Geneva. Photograph: agefotostock/Alamy

The dirt and thick over-paint coating a Renaissance masterpiece can obscure the true shape of what lies beneath. But when it comes to Salvator Mundi, that infamous study of Jesus Christ attributed by many to Leonardo da Vinci, the layers of intrigue covering the picture now match the murky stages of its lengthy restoration.

Last week another hidden layer of the story was uncovered, with fresh evidence of the likely destiny of the missing, record-breaking $450m (£360m) work of art.

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